A SLOW-ONSET TETANUS VACCINE REACTION

[Guest guest]

Jan wrote to me early on in December of 2000 and I linked her up with some

others.

It is terrifying OUT THERE. She is not alone in this story. I'm sure many

of you can relate.

Also went thru similar on a minor scale with my mom this last year.

I will encourage her again to see a homeopath for help.

Sheri

MY STORY

A SLOW-ONSET TETANUS VACCINE REACTION

AND

FILING FOR THE

NATIONAL CHILDHOOD VACCINE COMPENSATION PROGRAM

By Jan DeGrandchamp

It was a beautiful fall day, the Friday after Thanksgiving 2000, and the

holiday was very enjoyable. A few months earlier, I moved to a small town

in California to be closer to my family. I started a new job and purchased

a small cabin. Most of my weekends were spent camping, hiking, working on

my house, or volunteering at the local animal shelter. At age 54, I was

very active and healthy. My hobbies included singing, dancing, and cooking.

I was scheduled for an annual physical examination with a new doctor. When

I arrived for my physical, my name was not on the schedule. Because I had

my appointment card with me, they offered to “squeeze” me in—sadly, I

agreed. Then I had the fastest, high-speed, 15-minute physical I have ever

had in my entire life. The doctor barely touched me. During a previous

appointment, the Physician’s Assistant (PA) suggested that I have a Tetanus

Td vaccine. I had an infection at the time and felt I should wait until my

annual examination. The PA suggested I have a Tetanus shot because I

couldn’t remember when I had the last one, and they were advised for people

who lived in rural areas.

During the physical, we revisited the PA’s recommendation of a Tetanus

vaccine and the doctor stated emphatically that I should have one. I

didn’t realize that she was simply selling me a product, very much like

cosmetics, rather than caring about my health. She knew that I had a

recent infection and that my father had passed away two months earlier.

The possibility that I could be physically susceptible to any toxic

substance should have been apparent. I had not stepped on a nail, cut

myself, or done anything to warrant a vaccine.

After the nurse gave me the Tetanus shot, I felt a strange tingling going

up the side of my neck, the same side as the injection. While making my

payment, I mentioned the tingling to the receptionist. She did not answer

me; she just took my money. No one told me anything about vaccine

reactions or what to do if they happened. I don’t remember getting any

information or signing a release form. If I did, it was a perfunctory task

without any discussion about what to do if a reaction occurred. No blood

tests were taken or ordered. Twenty minutes later, I was in my car heading

home.

Over the weekend, I felt exhausted and ached all over. I stayed in bed,

assuming that the pain would go away. On Monday, even though still

hurting, I managed to go to work. My muscles became very stiff with deep

burning and stinging sensations, especially when I moved. The pain felt as

if I were being stung by wasps or set on fire. Even though the pain was

severe, I did everything possible to keep going. I just moved very slowly.

I took a lot of aspirin and very hot showers for relief. The onset of my

symptoms was slow and sporadic, which made it very difficult for me to

understand what was happening. I thought I was having a temporary reaction

to the vaccine or fighting a bug of some sort. I am the type of person who

rarely misses work and will show up even when I feel sick, so I kept going

in spite of how I felt.

During my morning break, I would take a 15-minute power walk around the

industrial complex. I stood up and noticed the burning sensation in my

thigh muscles had increased. My breathing became labored and I could

barely move. It was very difficult to walk a few steps and I couldn’t even

make it to the end of the building.

I called the clinic and scheduled an appointment. During the appointment,

I asked the PA if the Tetanus shot could be the cause of so much intense

pain. He said that he had never heard of this happening to anyone, as if

it were impossible. He ordered some blood tests and then I was sent home

to wait for an answer. By this time, turning over in bed or standing up

was extremely agonizing. My body was limp and I was absolutely exhausted.

I knew that something was terribly wrong.

I called the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and asked them for

information about vaccine reactions and if they could recommend any

treatment protocol. They referred me back to my physician and offered no

assistance. They said that they did not have any information or data on

vaccine reactions because they do not occur. This was not what I wanted to

hear! I wanted to be able to take something to my doctor so that we could

handle the problem together. I seemed to be bothering them by asking for

help.

After a few days, I called the clinic back and asked for the results of my

blood tests. I asked if someone could please call me back because it was

very important. The office staff said that the PA or a nurse would get

back to me right away and that my chart would be put at the top of the

call-back file. After seven polite phone calls, I realized that no one was

ever going to return my calls. The fact that I even suggested the Tetanus

shot may have caused my symptoms probably made they flag my file. I called

my HMO to let them know what had happened and asked for a new doctor.

Here’s a news flash—company policy states that a patient cannot see a new

doctor until the beginning of the next month. I had to wait three more

weeks to see a new physician.

A few days later, the pain began to increase. I called the HMO again to

see if I could go to the Emergency Room near my job. Yes, I was still

trying to work. It sounds crazy, but I am very determined when it comes to

keeping my commitments. Actually, my employer was very understanding and

let me sit at my desk all day and do very little. The HMO told me to call

the administrative offices of the old clinic and ask them where the nearest

Emergency Room was located. Technically, I was still under their care

until the end of the month. A clerk said that since my condition was not

life threatening (how she knew that, I will never know), I could not go to

the Emergency Room and I should go to Urgent Care instead. That was a

drive of over an hour to a different county. Even though I felt as if I

was going to pass out, I got in my car and drove the 80 miles and somehow

found the facility. My legs would seize up and become very stiff. I would

have to lift them with my hand in order to use the brakes or change gears.

It is a miracle that I didn’t have a traffic accident.

In hindsight, I realize that I wasn’t thinking very clearly, which was a

large part of my illness. Mentally, I was very confused and being

assertive took too much energy. The fatigue and exhaustion diminished my

ability to make logical decisions. All I knew was that I hurt, but I

didn’t know what to do about it. I felt as if I was wandering through a

foggy maze of rules and regulations while totally disoriented.

Foolish me—I thought the Urgent Care physician would see my pain. After

telling him how much I hurt, he said it was only stress and that I should

relax and maximize my food intake. Stress does not cause excruciating,

burning pain! He said that once I relaxed, the soreness would go away.

Since I still had not heard from the original clinic about my blood tests,

the Urgent Care physician called them for my results. They were normal.

He could not understand why the clinic would not let me know the results

without making another appointment—and he did not understand why I was

given a Tetanus shot. There was absolutely no medical reason to give me

one. His diagnosis was “general malaise” — a catch-all phrase for

tiredness and stress. He prescribed a sleep aid and sent me home. I felt

very discouraged because this physician could not see how much I hurt. He

seemed oblivious to how I felt.

Several days later, I talked to a nurse from the original clinic about my

blood work. Her reply was, “Hon, if you were sick, the doctor would have

called you.” I tried to explain to her that normal test results and my

symptoms could be two separate issues, but she was not interested in my

opinion. The following week, the doctor called me because I had complained

to the HMO about the seven unanswered phone calls. She said that since I

did not say I was in pain, no one returned my calls—even though I was told

that someone would. Not once during this conversation did she ask my how I

felt. I reminded her that I was still in pain, but she never answered me.

Each one of these negative encounters was stressful and frustrating.

The slow-onset reaction to the vaccine was even more confusing. My

symptoms were sporadic, migrating throughout my body, primarily upward.

After a shower and aspirin, I could function. Once I had some lipstick on,

I only looked tired to most people. Bizarre sensations began to show up

all over my body. My jaw felt as if someone were pushing it from

underneath and applying pressure. Besides the deep burning and stinging,

it felt as if I was being stabbed by an ice pick in different parts of my

body. These stabbing sensations were rapid and very severe. Noises would

cause me to jump in alarm and I would gasp for breath. My hands and wrists

became limp and it was very difficult to hold any type of object; my

coordination diminished rapidly.

When the pain subsided, I could move around and accomplish basic tasks.

Then, my muscles would seize up and I had to stop and rest. I would

improve slightly and then regress into a very weak, fatigued state. The

aches and pains evolved slowly throughout my body and it was very difficult

to explain these odd sensations. My clinic had no experience with vaccine

reactions, therefore, I was not diagnosed correctly—in fact, I wasn’t

diagnosed at all.

By the end of December, my symptoms increased and they migrated upward into

my arms and shoulders. My hands would contract and they curled toward my

forearms. I would have to sleep on them to flatten them out. I had a lot

of difficulty doing anything that required coordination. I could barely

cut my food; my hands would flail, and I would drop everything. Dishes and

glasses seemed to fly out of my hands. I was absolutely exhausted and I

walked like a drunk—staggering, wobbling, and falling down. Standing was

very strenuous and my legs felt as if they were made of cement and stairs

became impossible to climb. Sometimes, I would have to stop and try to

catch my breath because I felt winded.

At the beginning of 2001, I started to keep a journal of my physical

symptoms. Something told me that I had better write everything down for

future reference. I worked at a hospital for seven years and understood

the importance of documentation. The only pens I could use had to have ink

that flowed easily because I dropped them if I applied too much pressure.

It was hard to find the right words and I would transpose them, much like

dyslexia. My daily journal became a repetitious log of agonizing symptoms,

challenges, confusion, and child-like writing.

Desperate for help, I looked on-line for information about vaccine

reactions. I found a web site that explained the Vaccine Adverse Event

Reporting System (VAERS). When I called my medical clinic and asked them

to report my reaction, they said they did not have a “protocol” in place

for filing the form. I had to get the form myself, fill out the sections

describing my symptoms and personal information, and then I had to take it

to the clinic so that they could compete their portion. It is ridiculous

when a patient has to initiate and carry out a medical office function,

especially when extremely ill.

In January 2001, I finally saw a new physician. He was a family

practitioner associated with a large clinic in Los Angeles County. He did

not have any vaccine-reaction experience, but at least he listened,

researched the web, and tried to find some answers. He really was not sure

what to do and tried his best to understand and observe my progress. I had

so many strange symptoms that it was difficult for him to document all of

them.

My on-line search put me in touch with a woman from Germany who had a

Tetanus reaction seven years earlier. We found a woman in Arizona who had

her vaccine in April (7 to 8 months before my shot), and then we found

others who had reactions either from a Tetanus shot or from other vaccines.

Many of our symptoms were the same, but with slight variations.

The woman in Arizona suggested that I get a Tetanus Toxoid IgG test, so I

requested one from my doctor. Her results were elevated at over 7.0; mine

showed a level at 6.26. My physician, however, was unable to explain to me

what the results actually meant other than I had a reaction to the shot.

It is my understanding that after two weeks our levels should have been

closer to 1.0 rather than at these high levels after a month or two. Our

test results showed that we had high levels of Tetanus Toxoid in our

systems, much higher than normal.

What seemed clear to us was that physicians have a lot of difficulty

diagnosing these rare and complex disorders. I kept looking on-line for

more clues about Tetanus vaccine reactions so that I could get some help.

There were several cases that listed some of my symptoms, but no one case

had all of them. This one was the closest:

Reference is made to an article in the Journal of Neurology, 1977, entitled

“Unusual Neurological Complications following Tetanus Toxoid

Administration.” The author reports a 36-year-old female who received

tetanus toxoid in her left upper arm following a wound to her finger. Five

days later, she noticed a weakness first of the right and then of the left

and later of both legs. She complained of dizziness, instability,

lethargy, chest discomfort, difficulty in swallowing, and inarticulate

speech. She staggered when she walked, and she could take only a few

steps. Her EEG showed some abnormalities. After a month, she was discharged

without neurological disturbance, but she continued to feel weak and

anxious. Examinations during the next 11 months showed continued emotional

instability and some paresthesias (numbness and tingling) in the

extremities. The medical diagnosis was “a rapidly progressing neuropathy

with involvement of cranial nerves, myelopathy, and encephalopathy.

I showed this summary to my physician and asked for a consultation with a

neurologist.

In late January, I experienced a very frightening episode. My head felt as

if a brick were pressing on it and I became very disoriented. The pressure

was very strange and it threw me into a state of confusion. That was my

last day at work—I just couldn’t continue to struggle anymore and I was so

dazed I barely knew where I was. My attendance was getting worse; I was

absent more than I was present. I remember going to my doctor’s office to

get the disability forms, but I do not remember much more than that.

Months later, I realized that I picked the wrong day to have this happen.

It was my physician’s day off and it was the lunch hour. I told the clerk

that I didn’t know where I was and that I was having trouble filling out

the forms. She helped me by correcting my mistakes. If I had known that

Urgent Care was only two doors away, I would have gone there and been

evaluated. I do not remember talking to my employer or the 45-minute drive

home. This was very dangerous. Truly, the “lights were on and no one was

home.”

In February, I finally saw a neurologist. Was that upsetting! To say that

we did not communicate is an understatement. He ordered an MRI to rule out

Multiple Sclerosis and some of the other common neurological disorders,

which I did not have. When I asked if he had a prognosis or diagnosis, or

what he thought about vaccine reactions, he snapped at me and said that I

probably had some virus. Then, he stomped out of the room. He prescribed

a muscle relaxant and took some notes, but that was all he did.

His disapproving attitude increased my stress level and eroded much of my

confidence. I could not understand why anyone would treat me this way? I

felt devastated. He was the “expert,” but he talked down to me as if I

were stupid. I asked him if I needed additional tests for my nerves

because I felt as if they were “shot.” He said that I did not need any

other medical assessments and I did not need to see anyone else. I began

to understand that he did not know how to manage my case.

He prescribed Neurontin, an anti-seizure medication that is one of the

standard treatments for multi-symptom nerve pain. It seemed to reduce the

flailing and jerky motions, and some of the body aches. At that time, I

really did not like taking it. Adding medication on top of my confusion

made it difficult for me to know if the prescription was working or not.

It did not help with the staggering and wobbling. It did not reduce the

numbness or tingling in my limbs or the humming and vibrating sensations

that I experienced when I would lie down.

By this time, I could no longer lift my arms over my head. It seemed as if

my muscles stopped working and there was a lot of resistance along with the

pain. Washing my long hair was very taxing and I was left with a tangled

mess (dreadlocks, but not by choice). I had to cut it very short in order

to keep it clean. I felt alone and depressed. Some nights were terribly

frightening, especially in the beginning. The one time I thought about

calling 911, the snow was too deep for anyone to get to me. I just stayed

in my bed, coping the best I could. I called my family for reassurance,

but they really couldn’t help very much. Basically, I was on my own—I

realized that being ill is very lonely.

The other Tetanus victims were my biggest support—talking with someone who

understood how I felt was incredible. We all had a lot of difficulty

communicating with our physicians. It did not seem to matter how often we

said that the Tetanus shot caused our symptoms. If the doctor or nurse did

not agree, it would not be written in the medical records. If these

complaints were not documented, they did not exist. This was a huge

lesson. We had the vaccine—we got sick. Were we missing something?

Using the Freedom of Information Act, I sent a request to the FDA to get a

list of the adverse reactions reported for my vaccine lot number. The

Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research sent me the results. This

information is available on-line as well, but only after two years have

passed. Anyone can request the results for their vaccine after filing a

VAERS form and submitting a written request. I was curious to know if

anyone else had experience a reaction, which they had, and I knew that this

information might be important in the future.

The National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC) sent me a booklet that

describes the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Compensation Program

(Program) and a list of attorneys who specialize in vaccine cases. Since

vaccine cases are deliberated in the Federal Court system, the attorney can

be from any state. I wanted to find someone in California because that was

where I lived. If I had to meet with my legal representative, it would be

at least feasible.

The first attorney I called said that he would help me fill out the forms,

but he did not want to bother to submit the application or represent me

because these cases were too difficult to win. He said that doctors and

witnesses did not want to get involved in time-consuming legal cases that

were seldom won. Only a few law firms accept vaccine cases because they

are so complicated. From the start, I knew that my chances of being

compensated were very low. However, I have a stubborn streak and was

determined to prove that I had experienced a vaccine reaction.

I persisted until I finally found an attorney who seemed to understand what

I was saying. He had years of vaccine litigation experience and questioned

me thoroughly before taking my case.

He was very compassionate and gave me a lot of personal attention

throughout the litigation process. This was a very emotional experience

and I felt fortunate to have someone who explained the process to me. The

government compensates the attorney once the case has been decided, whether

it is won or lost, as long as it was filed in good faith. Therefore, I did

not have to put up a large sum of money to undertake this process. My

first job was to prove to my attorney that I really did have a reaction and

that it lasted longer than six months. This is where my journal was useful

because it helped me remember the timeline of my symptoms.

My primary-care physician agreed that I should get another neurologist,

especially since I fired the first one. Seven months after receiving the

Tetanus shot, in June 2001, I was finally able to see a qualified

neurologist. He was very kind and did his research regarding vaccine

reactions. My attorney advised me to take a summary of my symptoms with me

to the appointment. It described all of the symptoms that I experienced

within the first 72 hours after receiving the vaccine and how I felt

currently. I found this list of symptoms helped my physician understand

what I was trying to say. It was also very important to have all of my

symptoms documented in my medical chart.

After a thorough neurological examination, the doctor agreed that I had

experienced a vaccine reaction. He made the diagnosis of “autoimmune

peripheral neuropathy” due to the Tetanus shot. He described it as a

variant of Guillain-Barré Syndrome, a documented vaccine reaction that is

often misdiagnosed. He said that I had an “ataxic gait” and axonal nerve

damage. He explained that my nerves were damaged and that they might

regenerate in a few years. I just had to wait until my body healed.

Finally, I had a diagnosis! My attorney then had the confidence to go

forward and create the Affidavit needed to file for the Program. He was

very familiar with my symptoms, too, since he had heard them from some of

his other clients.

In 1986, the Program was set up by the Federal government to help children

who had vaccine reactions. Though Tetanus shots are listed as a childhood

vaccine, I could still file for the Program even though I am an adult.

Applying is not as simple as it sounds. It was a shock to learn that it is

such a difficult process with an enormous number of requirements.

Remember, I was not suing anyone—I was only applying for a government

program. This is total litigation—to the fullest extent. Taking on the

government is similar to playing in the major leagues. That is why it is

very important to have an attorney with vaccine litigation experience.

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) oversees the Program and

they are the “respondent” in the case. They have an arsenal of attorneys

who are hired specifically to prove a “petitioner” (the sick person) wrong.

A “Special Master” (judge), who is employed by the federal government, is

assigned to each case. The burden of proof is on the petitioner—the person

who is ill, or the parents of sick children. I had to submit 10 years of

medical records and countless documents that described everything about me.

Most cases are automatically denied, no matter how severe the reaction.

After my initial denial, I had to gather more evidence. It was very

difficult for me to duplicate all the paperwork that was needed and then go

to the post office and mail it. Keep in mind I hardly knew what planet I

was on, and physical activity was very exhausting. Most days, it was a

challenge to get up and dressed. Some days folding a blanket makes no

sense to me, let alone assembling documents in any logical order. It was a

process intended to prove that I was wrong or that I was lying. Believe

me—the experience was very painful, emotionally and physically.

The petitioner must be able to provide enough supporting documents so that

the attorney has sufficient evidence to prove the case. No attorney can be

expected to do all of the work necessary to win. Litigation requires an

incredible amount of work by both parties. The petitioner must be prepared

to expose his entire life to the courts. All of the documents are read by

a countless number of people—attorneys, clerks, physicians, and judges.

They knew everything about me. I felt more like a criminal than someone

who needed help. It was not as if I were trying to steal their money. I

have worked all my life, paid my taxes, and sworn my allegiance to this

country.

By August, my finances were getting desperately low. I was collecting

Unemployment Insurance, but no one would hire a cripple. I did what I had

to do to survive. It became necessary for me to sell my house, which by

some miracle I was able to accomplish. This was a terrible loss to me. I

had already lost my health, my job, my insurance, and now my home. A few

more months and I would have gone into foreclosure. Thankfully, my

mortgage broker and escrow officer did most of the work. I left all my

furniture and appliances behind and moved in with relatives until my

“trial” in October. Without the money from the house or my family’s help,

I would have ended up in a homeless shelter.

The government has hired expert witnesses to help deny vaccine-injury

claims. These witnesses receive large medical grants from the government

to undertake their research, so I doubt that they want to “bite the hand

that feeds them.” My neurologist decided to administer a nerve conduction

study, the results of which demonstrated abnormalities due to nerve damage.

In an attempt to discredit my doctor, the expert witness for the DHHS said

that the test should have been performed in an academic setting rather than

in a private office. He denounced the test results, as if they were

frivolous. Therefore, the government’s attorneys stated that they were

unacceptable.

My attorney requested that the same test be performed at the University of

California at Los Angeles (UCLA). A world-renowned neurologist, recognized

for his expertise in nerve conduction studies, was asked to administer the

test. The government said that the ULCA physician could not write a

medical opinion about the results. Doesn’t this sound a little strange?

One of the top experts in the field and his opinion was not important. My

attorney and I objected, of course. During the examination, I was not

allowed to volunteer any information about my case; I could only answer

questions if asked. I was so afraid that I would say or do something

wrong. The results of this test were abnormal and confirmed my

neurologist’s conclusion. This was the additional proof that we needed.

It seems very logical to have a second opinion or additional medical tests

so that a patient will receive appropriate medical care. However, this

test had nothing to do with medical care. This was legal strategy. The

government was determined to prove me wrong and it has the money to do so.

My attorney considered the UCLA test a very high-risk tactic because he

could not be sure what it might prove. I was not going to UCLA get any

medical care—I was going there as part of a legal objective.

The trial was scheduled for October of 2002. The government made me a

pre-trial settlement offer of $5,000. I was stunned that they could put

such a low value on someone’s life, so I turned it down. The trial was

conducted by means of a telephone conference call. The Special Master

assigned to my case flew from Washington, DC, to Los Angeles and directed

the proceedings from a conference room near the airport. My attorney and

neurologist were in attendance. We chose my neurologist for our expert

witness because he was familiar with my case and I knew that he cared about

me.

The other telephone-conference participants were the DHHS attorney and the

government’s expert witness, a neurologist associated with a well-known

university. In reality, it was my doctor who was on trial because he had

to prove he knew what he was doing. Keep in mind that he is a licensed

physician with admitting privileges at an accredited hospital. In order to

have hospital admitting privileges, his credentials were examined

thoroughly. Under California State law, he is required to participate in

continuing-education programs so that he knows the current medical treatments.

The trial took about four hours, during which time I was not allowed to say

anything. The judge asked me a couple of “off the record” questions prior

to the trial, specifically if I was the one who filled out the top part of

the VAERS form. He said that he knew the clinic had not filled out that

portion of the form because he could read it. He laughed about it and I

believe that he was concerned that the information was correct. After

that, I had to remain silent while these people argued about the case. The

PA at the original clinic had written in my chart that I was neurologically

intact. The government used that statement as compelling evidence that I

had not experienced a vaccine reaction—a neurological assessment made by

someone who admitted he had never even heard of a vaccine reaction.

The trial was an expensive endeavor; in fact, I am sure the entire process

was expensive. I believe that it was very important for the Special Master

to see my witness and attorney face-to-face, but no one was interested in

seeing me. It was my doctor and attorney who had to represent my physical

condition and mental character to the Special Master. No one else that was

involved with these proceedings, even my attorney, ever saw me.

Fortunately, he and I had many long conversations and I felt that he had

taken the time to get to know me. The other participants only reviewed my

medical records and discussed their impressions.

The Program was written so that specific vaccine reactions will be

compensated, which increases the difficulty to win these cases. The

narrower the definitions of possible reactions, the more cases will be

eliminated during the legal process. The Tetanus vaccine-related injuries

that may be compensated are:

“Anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock, brachial neuritis, and any acute

complication or sequela (including death) of an illness, disability,

injury, or condition referred to above which illness, disability, injury or

condition arose within the time period described.”

Since physicians may have different interpretations or diagnoses for the

same symptoms, or they may not even recognize vaccine reactions, the

government is able to eliminate many of these cases.

Axonal nerve damage happens when the myelin sheath is injured, however, I

did not have any physical proof of this because my first neurologist

refused to conduct the appropriate tests, even when I asked for them.

Adequate health coverage does not guarantee high-quality results. Two of

the other Tetanus victims were being treated by a university medical

facility and a major health clinic and they received only minimal care. By

the time of the trial, I could no longer afford medical insurance or

expensive medical tests, such as a nerve biopsy, which could have provided

more proof of my nerve damage.

After the trial, the Judge recommended that a settlement be considered.

The DHHS attorney requested more documents—I could not seem to satisfy them

with enough paperwork. They said that we had not proven our case, but they

needed more information. While we were waiting for the Judge’s decision,

the government made another offer of $15,000. I felt that my life was

worth more than the price of the average car and I told my attorney that I

thought the amount was insulting. He was a little unsure about my

decision. If we lost the case, I would get absolutely nothing. If I

accepted their offer, at least I would get something.

My odds would have been better at a Las Vegas casino. This strategy puts a

petitioner at a very significant disadvantage. This is a very adversarial

relationship because the government does not work with a petitioner to

solve the problem. It tries very hard to prove them wrong. The choice is

to accept the pittance they offer or try for more money. For most people,

it takes years to get to this point, and it is easier to give up rather

than to continue to fight. Since we did not agree on a settlement amount,

the Special Master chose to resolve the case and write a Decision.

The whole process is lengthy and intimidating, and when someone is ill, it

is even more difficult. The Vaccine Courts require very detailed

information about a petitioner and scrutinize all documents thoroughly. I

applied for Social Security Disability (SSD) because I was disabled and

entitled to assistance. I needed a back-up plan to survive financially

since there was no guarantee that I would win my vaccine case. Money

wasn’t exactly falling from trees and there is something about eating that

I seem to enjoy. All my SSD documents had to be submitted to the Vaccine

Courts. My attorney suggested that I retain a law firm that specialized in

SSD applications because he was not familiar with the process. This is

another reason why so many physicians and attorneys do not want to get

involved in these drawn out cases. Now, I had to duplicate everything so

that both law firms and DHHS were fully informed. SSD requires specific

medical appointments and psychological evaluations, the results of which

had to be forwarded to the DHHS attorney.

Under the Program, a claim must be filed within three years after receiving

a vaccine. The process can take years, but it must be completed before

suing a physician or the manufacturer. Then, it could take another five

years to finish those cases. Who has the time, money, or energy for years

of legal proceedings? How is someone supposed to do this when their only

goal should be to get healthy? To me, this is an absolute crime. The

government and pharmaceutical companies have the time, resources, and

attorneys to litigate these cases. What does the patient have?

After the trial, I found a place to live and waited for the results. I

lived on the money from the sale of my home, but I still had not been

approved by SSD. The stress and tension was really starting to get to me.

In November, while walking in my apartment, my legs gave out and I

collapsed. I called a community medical clinic and managed to get an

appointment. They helped me get a grant for Neurontin, which I had stopped

using. It is an expensive drug that I could no longer afford. They also

recommended large doses of Motrin and Tylenol for the pain. By now, I was

taking too much aspirin, so it was time to stop before I developed other

complications. I was scared that I was getting weaker and weaker. If I

stayed calm and quiet, my pain and symptoms were less intense, but when

stressful situations arose, such as moving and legal proceedings, my

symptoms increased. My legs were very weak and it was absolutely

impossible for me to walk without a cane—I couldn’t even walk around one

block.

My SSD was finally approved, but I still had to wait for the vaccine case

to be resolved. My attorney was starting to wean me in the event we lost

the case, which was highly probable. He kept reminding me that very few

people actually win. I was beginning to feel that it was time for me to

move on with my life and accept the consequences.

In May of 2003, my attorney called and let me know that I won my case. He

was practically doing cartwheels, but I had no idea what it meant.

Besides, by that time I was pretty numb emotionally. My feelings had

flat-lined after months of being in a constant state of disappointment. He

sent me a copy of the Special Master’s Decision, which stated:

“The issue in this case is whether the injuries alleged by Petitioner, Miss

Jan DeGrandchamp, occurred as a result of her tetanus-diphtheria (Td)

vaccination administered on 24 November 2000. Specifically, Petitioner

alleged brachial neuritis, anaphylaxis and peripheral neuropathy as sequlae

to the Td vaccine. The Court finds that Petitioner did not meet her burden

by a preponderance of the evidence concerning her claims of brachial

neuritis and anaphylaxis. However, the Court finds that it is more likely

than not that Miss DeGrandchamp did suffer peripheral neuropathy as a

result of the Td vaccine.

Petitioner provides medically plausible mechanism, an autoimmune response,

for Miss DeGrandchamp’s injuries. The onset of her maladies was temporal

to the administration of the Td vaccine. The medical records indicate that

doctors searched for other causes for Petitioner’s symptoms but found none.

Although both medical experts are eminently qualified, only Dr. H,

Petitioner’s expert, performed a face-to-face evaluation of Miss

DeGrandchamp. Finally, Dr. H’s concern that the medical records indicated

only subjective findings was allayed by the objecting findings of the two

nerve conduction studies. Thus, the Court finds that Petitioner has proved

by a preponderance of the evidence that the Td vaccine that she received on

24 November 2000 was more likely than not the cause of the peripheral

neuropathy she suffers until this day.”

This decision entitled me to an award under the Vaccine Act.

Then another roller-coaster ride started. There were more status

conferences with my attorney and the DHHS attorney. After the Judge issued

the Decision, DHHS said that we had not proven that I was permanently

disabled. According to Social Security, another division of the federal

government, I was permanently disabled and they were sending me a monthly

check for that disability. According to DHHS, that was not adequate proof.

It was a constant battle to stand up for my rights and fight for my

beliefs.

At first, my attorney thought that the judgment would make me whole, as in

most lawsuits. Therefore, he asked for a generous settlement. Then, DHHS

asked me to provide more documents about earnings and expenses—ten years of

taxes and medical expenses. These demands were exasperating and

frustrating. Jump—how high? They have the power to ask for anything they

want, and they always want it right now. They asked for estimates of my

current and future insurance expenses. Since I am considered “disabled,” I

cannot be insured. My Medicare coverage would not start until another

year, so I had to be careful not to get sick. SSD is considered taxable

income, so the prorated amount was deducted from my settlement.

In late September of 2003, I finally agreed to a figure that was much less

than the original amount my attorney requested. I was up against another

wall. My options were that I could continue to fight for more money, which

could take another year or two, or take the settlement. If we continued,

the Special Master could reduce the amount I was offered if he felt like

it. What choice did I have? I was too tired to fight anymore—and that is

exactly what they wanted. I did not have the energy or finances to

continue.

Even after agreeing to an amount, there was still more waiting. It would

take months for approval by a DHHS supervisor, followed by Court approval.

In January of 2004, I signed a “Stipulation” that re-stated the agreed

amount. I started to believe that I may finally get some money, but I also

knew that it would still take a long time. If anything happened to me

while waiting to be compensated, no one in my family would have any claim

to it. The government would just keep it. I just had to be very patient.

Finally, in April of 2004, I received a check from the US. Treasury

Department. By this time, my enthusiasm was pretty low and I found it very

difficult to understand and accept the whole process.

After all of this, the only conclusion that I can make is that there really

isn’t anything special about my case. It is a documented fact that a

certain number of people react to vaccines—and I was one of them. My

reaction is considered a statistical probability—the “one in a million”

that just happens. Of the small percentage of people who experience

vaccine reactions, an even smaller percentage will be able to apply for the

Program. They lack the appropriate medical assistance and documentation.

In my group, only one other woman filed. We both gathered as much evidence

as we could, however, I won and she lost. Her case was denied because her

medical records did not provide enough evidence that the vaccine caused her

injuries.

I won my case was because I refused to allow the federal government to

treat me as if I were worthless. I know that I have rights—the right to

choose, the right to be informed, and the right to be treated with respect.

After more than three years, I was compensated for my reaction to a common

inoculation. Many cases take much longer than this, often without success.

I learned some valuable lessons, but they were lessons of pain and

struggle. I will never be the same. My muscles are still stiff and always

ache. I cannot raise my arms over my head without feeling pain, and I

wobble and lose my balance when I walk. I wear a medical alert tag that

says “no vaccines” so that I will not be given a Tetanus shot if I am in an

accident. I am getting stronger every day and I know that I will

eventually get better. Someday, I will dance again.

-------

Jan DeGrandchamp was born in Santa Barbara, California. After attending

local schools, she obtained an A.S. degree in Business and Management. She

was employed as an Administrative Assistant for various businesses in

California and Oregon, including a community hospital and a major film

studio.

Music has always been one of her favorite pastimes, especially gospel

music. She sang and danced with Della Reese’s church choir in Los Angeles,

California, for over two years. Her other hobbies included camping and

hiking, all of which she has stopped.

Currently, she lives near Portland, Oregon, to be close to her son. Her

illness has forced her to move several times. Next year, she hopes to find

a more permanent residence. She spends most of my time trying to improve

her health and singing in a small, sit-down band.

http://www.redflagsweekly.com/conferences/vaccines/2004_sept01.php

--------------------------------------------------------

Sheri Nakken, former R.N., MA, Hahnemannian Homeopath

Vaccination Information & Choice Network, Nevada City CA & Wales UK

$$ Donations to help in the work - accepted by Paypal account

Voicemail US 530-740-0561

Vaccines - http://www.nccn.net/~wwithin/vaccine.htm or

http://www.wellwithin1.com/vaccine.htm

Vaccine Dangers On-Line courses - http://www.wellwithin1.com/vaccineclass.htm

Reality of the Diseases & Treatment -

http://www.nccn.net/~wwithin/vaccineclass.htm

Homeopathy On-Line courses - http://www.wellwithin1.com/homeo.htm

NEXT CLASSES start by email March 12 & 13

[Guest guest]

Oh goodness

The only thing I know that might help is homeopathic treatment with a

homeopath.

How tragic

Sounds very likely

Sheri

At 04:26 PM 2/27/2008 -0000, you wrote:

>I'm so sad after reading this. But it all makes sense now. My sister

>was born with mild cerebral palsy (when I mean mild she had a slight

>limp but that was it, totally normal beyond that). We moved about 12

>years ago to go to college. Before entering or slightly after we

>entered, my parents took us to get Tetanus booster shots. I never

>thought anything of this although I dragged my feet because little

>else hurts like a tetanus shot going in. I didn't know about the

>dangers of vaccines then.

>

>I never connected the dots but within a few months of this my sister

>fell and neurological problems progressed from there. She has severe

>neuropathic pain and has dystonia. She also exhibits seizure like

>behavior and many times gets " locked up where her arms,head/next or

>legs stay rigid in a position. She is pretty much confined to a

>wheelchair most of the time and can never live alone. The doctors

>treat her well but they have never seen anything exactly like her

>case. While I'm sure it would be impossible to prove the booster did

>this to her, after reading Jan's story, I really believe it did.

>

>

>

>

>>

>> Jan wrote to me early on in December of 2000 and I linked her up

>with some

>> others.

>> It is terrifying OUT THERE. She is not alone in this story. I'm

>sure many

>> of you can relate.

>> Also went thru similar on a minor scale with my mom this last year.

>>

>> I will encourage her again to see a homeopath for help.

>> Sheri

>>

>> MY STORY

>> A SLOW-ONSET TETANUS VACCINE REACTION

>> AND

>> FILING FOR THE

>> NATIONAL CHILDHOOD VACCINE COMPENSATION PROGRAM

>>

>> By Jan DeGrandchamp

>>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I'm so sad after reading this. But it all makes sense now. My sister

was born with mild cerebral palsy (when I mean mild she had a slight

limp but that was it, totally normal beyond that). We moved about 12

years ago to go to college. Before entering or slightly after we

entered, my parents took us to get Tetanus booster shots. I never

thought anything of this although I dragged my feet because little

else hurts like a tetanus shot going in. I didn't know about the

dangers of vaccines then.

I never connected the dots but within a few months of this my sister

fell and neurological problems progressed from there. She has severe

neuropathic pain and has dystonia. She also exhibits seizure like

behavior and many times gets " locked up where her arms,head/next or

legs stay rigid in a position. She is pretty much confined to a

wheelchair most of the time and can never live alone. The doctors

treat her well but they have never seen anything exactly like her

case. While I'm sure it would be impossible to prove the booster did

this to her, after reading Jan's story, I really believe it did.

>

> Jan wrote to me early on in December of 2000 and I linked her up

with some

> others.

> It is terrifying OUT THERE. She is not alone in this story. I'm

sure many

> of you can relate.

> Also went thru similar on a minor scale with my mom this last year.

>

> I will encourage her again to see a homeopath for help.

> Sheri

>

> MY STORY

> A SLOW-ONSET TETANUS VACCINE REACTION

> AND

> FILING FOR THE

> NATIONAL CHILDHOOD VACCINE COMPENSATION PROGRAM

>

> By Jan DeGrandchamp

>

[Guest guest]

Unfortunately she lives with my parents and they aren't too keen on

natural cures and don't believe vaccines are bad. They still bug me

every other time I see them to see if I plan to vaccinate my son (I do

not and tell them that straight up). So, Homeopathy is probably out.

That said, I am going to share Jan's story with them next time I see

them...probably won't help but can't hurt. Eventually she will live

with us and then I'll try a homeopath...

> >>

> >> Jan wrote to me early on in December of 2000 and I linked her up

> >with some

> >> others.

> >> It is terrifying OUT THERE. She is not alone in this story. I'm

> >sure many

> >> of you can relate.

> >> Also went thru similar on a minor scale with my mom this last year.

> >>

> >> I will encourage her again to see a homeopath for help.

> >> Sheri

> >>

> >> MY STORY

> >> A SLOW-ONSET TETANUS VACCINE REACTION

> >> AND

> >> FILING FOR THE

> >> NATIONAL CHILDHOOD VACCINE COMPENSATION PROGRAM

> >>

> >> By Jan DeGrandchamp

> >>

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >