For Jasmine before her vaccine injury, she was a healthy, active young woman. She was very outgoing, happy, energetic, always smiling, always the adventurous one, she liked swimming, playing volleyball, kayaking, going to the movies, liked to go zip lining.

Three days prior to her vaccine injury she was kayaking. For us, her family, we were busy with life, I was working full-time, and Jasmine was working part-time as a cashier at the superstore grocery store. I’m a licensed practical nurse. My husband, a carpenter working in construction.

Our life has drastically changed right after Jasmine’s injury, who was always independent, had now become dependent 24/7.

Jasmine needs help for her mobility transfers, she needs special medical equipment for taking care of her as well. She needs help bathing/showering for example, to get in and out of the tub. Sometimes when she’s in so much pain she will need help dressing. It’s like taking care of a toddler but at least majority of toddlers can walk, Jasmine can’t.

It extremely affects her dignity and her self-esteem. Most days she’s upset and depressed.

While she would like to go swimming at the beach or the pool with family or her friends, go tubing on the river, zip line with her step dad, kayaking with us, camping or going on rides at the fair but can’t, so she feels sad, and upset, sometimes angry, she’s afraid to go hang out with her friends, she’s afraid of having remor episodes in front of company or friends, so it’s hard on her and us as we all have to adjust to the new lifestyle.

It’s been over four years since the vaccine injury and I am still in pain every day and can’t walk.