It started with a simple choice many of us made. A doctor, a writer, a mother… all stepped forward during those uncertain months, believing they were doing the right thing. But for a small group of people, life changed in ways they never saw coming. And today, they’re finally sharing the stories they once kept quiet.

For Dr. Joel Wallskog, life had always been movement. Long shifts. Family weekends on the water. A strong, healthy body he trusted. So when he rolled up his sleeve for the Covid vaccine in 2020, he never imagined the numbness that crept into his legs days later—or the moment he collapsed in front of a patient. Doctors didn’t have answers. Some didn’t want to talk about it at all. “I felt abandoned,” he said. “I kept waiting for someone to ask how they could help.”

Across the ocean, Oxford lecturer Sally Bayley felt her world shrink after her second dose. The vibrant walks she loved suddenly required rest stops. Sounds grew too loud. Her vision blurred. She was told it was anxiety, but she knew better. “It was like my body suddenly belonged to someone else,” she shared.

And in Devon, business owner Rebecca Thommen watched her life unravel in slow motion—numb legs, a wheelchair, months in her parents’ home, and a husband trying desperately to hold their young family together.

These three people never met, yet their experiences echo each other with painful clarity. Transverse myelitis, a rare inflammation of the spinal cord, left them battling weakness, paralysis, and fear—while searching for support that didn’t always come.

Still, each of them wakes up every day fighting for better answers, better care, and a chance to feel seen. Their stories aren’t about blame—they’re about being heard.