A Dancer’s Courageous Journey With Neurological Injuries After the Moderna Vaccine

Save

Jessica Sutta, singer, dancer, and actress, in New York on Feb. 27, 2023.Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times

By Yuhong Dong, M.D., Ph.D. and Chris Chen

5/19/2023Updated: 5/22/2023

0:00

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Jessica Sutta wanted to do what was right. As “a law-abiding citizen,” she felt it was her responsibility to get vaccinated to protect her community and help stop the pandemic. She never expected a negative reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine—one that would dramatically change the course of her life.

Sutta spoke with The Epoch Times “American Thought Leaders” host Jan Jekielek about her experience with the COVID-19 vaccine. We'll take a deeper look into her story, her symptoms, and an analysis of vaccine association, and will review similar research and recommendations about how to heal from a COVID-19 vaccine injury.

In her interview, Sutta explained how an adverse reaction to the Moderna vaccine left her with a severe neurological disorder. She also discussed how she felt the media and entertainment industry influencers pressured people to get the vaccine, which she believes was irresponsible. While it has been difficult for her family to watch her suffer each day and cope with the impact it has had on their lives, Sutta remains optimistic about her recovery. She hopes that by revealing her story, she and others in the vaccine-injured community will be able to heal.

The Least Anticipated Experience of a Dancer

Sutta, a former Pussycat Dolls member, has been suffering from a severe adverse reaction to the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for the past two years. She went public with her vaccine injury story for the first time on Jan’s show.

Story continues below advertisement

Three days after her second dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine in September 2021, Sutta developed excruciating muscle spasms and right-sided flank pain that felt like she had broken a rib. She also had migraine headaches and brain fog, feeling like she couldn’t properly put words together to express herself.

Sutta tried everything, including muscle relaxants, pain relievers, chiropractic treatments, acupuncture, massage, exercise, and rest, but the agony persisted. She admitted herself to the hospital and they ran many tests, including a CT scan, all to find out that there was “absolutely nothing wrong with me,” she said.

By December 2021, Sutta’s pain had spread to all parts of her body. Even moving became very difficult since she could feel it in her eyelids, legs, and feet. “It just felt like burning and just knives in my side, and it was incredibly debilitating. I couldn’t even lift my son,” she said. Sutta eventually found a massage therapist to treat the muscle spasms in her back, but the symptoms persisted and she eventually developed a tremor and was having involuntary head and leg jerks.

In January 2022, Sutta sought medical attention once again and received a diagnosis of fibromyalgia after undergoing tests at the hospital. Following her rheumatologist’s advice, she began exercising as a means of alleviating her pain. However, to her dismay, this approach only exacerbated her symptoms, leading to the development of even more severe nerve pain. She vividly recalls the sensation that her entire body felt like it was on fire. “It was in my ribcage and all the way down my spine.” The pain came in waves, almost like contractions. “When the neuropathy came, it spread through my whole body. I remember staring at the ceiling and thinking, ‘Oh my God, this is it. I’m dying,’” Sutta said.

Sutta implored her doctor to arrange for her to be evaluated by a neurologist.

Story continues below advertisement

In March 2022, Sutta sought the advice of a neurologist, who raised the possibility that her symptoms may be an adverse reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine. Despite having heard about the side effects of the vaccine and being shown a video by her husband a few months earlier of many women who were experiencing severe vaccine reactions, Sutta initially dismissed the idea that her symptoms were related. She had believed her symptoms were just muscle spasms that would eventually go away. However, after months of enduring debilitating pain, she finally acknowledged the possibility that it might be a vaccine injury.

Her neurologist suspected that her symptoms may be due to systemic inflammation caused by the vaccine or small fiber neuropathy and ordered additional tests, including bloodwork and an MRI of her brain.

In May 2022, Sutta went to the hospital for the second time, and while she was given no definitive diagnosis, tests revealed symptoms similar to those of multiple sclerosis (MS). MS is an autoimmune disease that is characterized by inflammatory demyelinating lesions in the white matter of the central nervous system (CNS), and it is possible that it is linked to vaccination.

Although she has some better days and some worse days, Sutta was still suffering from these symptoms during her interview with Jan.

COVID-19 Vaccine Plays a Causal Role

Irrespective of the fact that the medical community tends to underdiagnose vaccine-related injuries, Sutta’s physician diagnosed her demyelinated neurological symptoms as vaccine-related side effects.

Story continues below advertisement

Based on the fact that a confirmed neurological diagnosis with a plausible temporal relationship to vaccine intake, especially one that occurred within a very short time from the second injection to symptom onset—three days—as well as a lack of other attributable factors, it is highly likely that the vaccine plays a causal role in her subsequent neurological events.

Furthermore, similar adverse neurological reactions to COVID-19 vaccination have been reported, including neuropathy, which can cause pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness. Symptoms comparable to fibromyalgia may arise, including widespread pain, exhaustion, sleep disorders, and cognitive issues (such as brain fog).

COVID-19 Vaccine-Associated Neuroinflammatory Conditions

Many investigations have proven the occurrence of demyelination following COVID-19 vaccination, and it is not uncommon.

The demyelination condition of nerves is when the myelin sheath that covers nerve cells is destroyed and signals from one nerve to another aren’t properly transmitted.

A review published Jan 2022 in the Journal of Neuroimmunology analyzed 32 cases of COVID-19 vaccine-associated CNS demyelination, with a median age of 44 years. The study found that 11 cases were associated with the Pfizer vaccine, eight with the AstraZeneca vaccine, six with the Moderna vaccine, five with the Sinovac/Sinopharm vaccine, and one case each of the Sputnik and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

Story continues below advertisement

The mRNA vaccines were found to have the highest association with demyelinating syndrome (17/32), followed by viral vector vaccines (10/32) and inactivated vaccines (5/32). Additionally, the majority of symptomatic episodes of multiple sclerosis (9/12) were caused by mRNA-based vaccines.

The majority of cases (71.8 percent) occurred after the first dose of vaccine, with a median time to neurological symptoms of nine days. There is a potential bias that those who get the first dose and have a strong reaction may not go for a second, as normally the more shots one receives, the more likely another event will occur.

A review published in Brain Sciences in March 2022 examined the World Health Organization’s eight approved COVID-19 vaccinations. They conducted a thorough literature search using Google Scholar and PubMed and included 51 cases.

The results found that cerebral venous sinus thrombosis was the most prevalent CNS damage (14.47 percent), followed by CNS demyelinating illness (9.30 percent). The majority of these incidents happened with AstraZeneca (28.55 percent), Pfizer-Biotech (9.18 percent), and Moderna (8.16 percent) vaccines.

Story continues below advertisement

The above retrospective case studies are not a head-to-head comparison design and therefore, are not suitable for a direct comparison of the rates between different vaccines.

Why Does Demyelination Occur After a COVID-19 Vaccine?

Prior to the COVID-19 vaccine, demyelination conditions have been reported to be associated with other vaccines, (e.g. HPV vaccine and the Tdap vaccine, a vaccine for adolescent and adult tetanus, reduced diphtheria, and acellular pertussis).

A large 2017 French study reported that over 2.2 million young girls had a nearly fourfold increased risk of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) after HPV vaccination due to nerve demyelination.

A 2011 U.S. study found a nearly 2.5 to 10 times greater risk of acquiring GBS within six weeks post-HPV vaccination.

Although doctors have not conclusively diagnosed Sutta with CNS demyelinating illness, they have identified symptoms of the disease. What could be happening to her nerves?

Story continues below advertisement

Myelin is a substance that facilitates the rapid and efficient transmission of nerve signals within the nervous system. When the myelin sheath is damaged or destroyed (a process called demyelination), the nerve signals slow down or stop. This can cause a range of neurological problems including Guillain-Barré syndrome, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, stroke, spinal cord injury, and cognitive impairments.

There are several potential factors that could contribute to demyelination after COVID-19 vaccination.

One of the primary immunogenic factors is molecular mimicry, where vaccine antigens are similar to certain surface proteins on neurons in the body, potentially leading to the immune system mistakenly attacking its own neurons after vaccination and triggering demyelination. This is also known as autoimmunity.

Another important factor is the use of immune adjuvants, substances added to vaccines to enhance the immune response and effectiveness. However, some immune adjuvants are thought to stimulate abnormal immune responses, causing the immune system to attack normal body tissues, including the myelin sheaths in the nervous system.

COVID-19 mRNA vaccines are different from traditional vaccines listed on the CDC website because they don’t include typical adjuvants. Instead, these vaccines are based on mRNA molecules, which have the special ability to temporarily encode immunogenic antigens (substances that trigger an immune response) and also act as their own adjuvants (substances that enhance the immune response).

‘Vaccine Fog’ and Other Damage Linked to Dysrupted Immunity by COVID-19 Vaccine

Some individuals have told us that while they did not suffer significant demyelination symptoms as Sutta did after getting the COVID-19 vaccination, they did feel sleepy, forgetful, or had difficulty concentrating. This phenomenon, known as “vaccine fog,” is a brief cognitive impairment that can develop following immunization. The precise cause of vaccine fog is unknown, however, it is also considered to be related to the body’s immune response to the vaccine.

A Harvard University report published in Clinical Immunology found that patients with COVID-19 infection have antibodies produced against the viral protein that can attack multiple organs in the body. This response can cause lingering, profound fatigue in patients.

Researchers at the University of California, Davis, noted that the spike protein in COVID-19 patients and the COVID-19 vaccine can cause autoimmunity.

The SARS-CoV-2 spike protein is a highly toxic and inflammatory protein that is disrupting immunity in millions of people after COVID-19 infection or vaccination.

Healing Vaccine Injuries

The COVID-19 pandemic and vaccine-related injuries are a wake-up call reminding us to pay attention to our body’s miraculous natural healing ability.

The body has an enormous capacity for self-healing and self-repair.

The lymphatic system is our “immune network manager,” designed to keep internal and external toxins and invaders away from our body. It’s a remarkable reflection of our miraculous design, flawless in both structure and function.

The vaccine was specially designed to be absorbed by our lymphatic system, so those with an adverse reaction may have a weaker point in their lymphatic system that failed to eradicate the vaccine from the body in a timely manner.

Maintaining a healthy, anti-inflammatory lifestyle is essential for building a strong defense system capable of optimal healing.

The Importance of a Healthy Lifestyle

Establishing a healthy lifestyle is the most natural way to boost our lymphatic flow and help clear vaccine-related injuries.

Getting enough sleep is essential, since during sleep, the brain lymphatic system clears neurotoxins including spike proteins from the brain and spinal fluid.

Exercise: Lymphatic flow becomes very active during exercise because of surrounding muscle contractions and body movement. Since the lymphatic system does not have an organ like the heart to pump fluid throughout the body, it relies on movement and the contraction of our muscles to make it flow.

Diet: Adopting a low-inflammatory diet that eliminates refined starches, refined sugars, artificial trans fats, and high levels of carbohydrates is an evidence-based way to reduce inflammation in the brain.

Exposure to Sunlight: Sunlight has great healing power. It contains a type of light called “near-infrared” that can increase the production of melatonin in our bodies and detoxify the spike proteins caused by COVID-19 vaccination.

If our immunity is strengthened, our lymphatic flow will be smooth, and our self-healing ability will be stronger and able to break the vicious cycle of nervous system inflammation, thereby increasing our potential for recovery after a vaccine-related injury.

Special Techniques to Reduce Brain Inflammation

Fortunately, reducing brain inflammation doesn’t have to be complicated, and there are simple changes you can implement at home to address your symptoms naturally.

In Part 5 of our Miraculous Immune System series, we introduced some practical ways to reinforce lymphatic function that will help alleviate symptoms from vaccine-related injuries. Lymphatic massage techniques, acupuncture, herbs, photobiomodulation, vitamins C and D, and anti-inflammatory supplements all promote a smoother lymphatic flow that is more effective for clearing injuries.

Autophagy is a natural cellular process that helps remove damaged or unnecessary components within cells, allowing for cellular renewal and maintenance. While there aren’t specific techniques known to increase autophagy after a COVID-19 infection or vaccination, some general practices often recommended to boost autophagy include:

Intermittent fasting: Restricting food intake for specific periods may stimulate autophagy. Common approaches include time-restricted eating or alternate-day fasting.
Regular exercise: Physical activity, including both aerobic and resistance training, has been associated with increased autophagy levels.
Nutritional considerations: Certain compounds like resveratrol (found in red grapes and berries), green tea, curcumin (found in turmeric), and omega-3 fatty acids (abundant in some fish), have been suggested to support autophagy.
Stress reduction: Chronic stress may hinder autophagy, so adopting stress management techniques like meditation, yoga, or deep breathing exercises may be highly beneficial.

Furthermore, chronic stress and inadequate sleep can increase your inflammatory burden. Reducing stress is essential to reducing brain inflammation.

Meditation: Those who practice regular meditation have shown an increased ability to concentrate and improvement in their response times, which may also be helpful for patients suffering from COVID-19-related symptoms like brain fog.

While different approaches may appear unrelated, they are actually interconnected with one another. A combination of different methods may have synergistic effects, and we may have to find individualized ways of combining these approaches, as each person’s body and conditions are unique.

With a holistic approach that considers the complex interconnections among the natural healing mechanisms of our body, mind, and spirit, we can enhance our ability to improve our physical and mental health and overall well-being.

Seeking Help and Speaking Out

Sutta researched vaccine injuries and was inspired by React19 to speak out about her own adverse reaction to the vaccine. She was later inspired to join their board of directors.

Sutta felt pressured to get the vaccine and sees that many people were disparaged, gaslit, and even demonized as “the unvaccinated,” which were all forms of bullying. She believes going public is the most responsible thing to do, and has chosen to speak out with Jan’s help.

Despite the potential negative impact on her career, she wants the vaccine-injured community to heal and encourages others to find their voice and advocate for themselves.

Sutta shares her experience of censorship and isolation in trying to speak out about her COVID-19 vaccine injury and her concern about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine, especially for members of the military.

She urges people to join the React19 community to find support and protocols to help with vaccine injuries. “There are all these beautiful protocols that they are finding, all these new tests, all these things that will help us heal. You will be heard and you will be seen and you’ll be loved and accepted.”

Despite her long-time belief in the power of vaccines, including those for tuberculosis and hepatitis B that Sutta received as a child, she now feels it’s important to speak out as a victim of a COVID-19 vaccine injury. Her harrowing experience has compelled her to share the truth and caution others about the potential risks of unknown substances. Above all, she urges everyone to prioritize the safety of their bodies to protect them from harm.

“This is real. Your voice matters. You are loved. It’s time to take off your tinfoil hat that has been so graciously given to you by other people, because you’re not crazy. It’s happening. It’s time to get the researchers and the doctors involved to heal us because I know we will heal. It’s important to speak out now, truly.”

◇ References:

Ismail, I. I., & Salama, S. (2022). A systematic review of cases of CNS demyelination following COVID-19 vaccination. Journal of Neuroimmunology, 362, 577765. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneuroim.2021.577765

Sriwastava, S., Sharma, K., Khalid, S. H., Bhansali, S., Shrestha, A. K., Elkhooly, M., Srivastava, S., Khan, E., Jaiswal, S., & Wen, S. (2022). COVID-19 Vaccination and Neurological Manifestations: A Review of Case Reports and Case Series. Brain Sciences, 12(3). https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12030407

Miranda, S., Chaignot, C., Collin, C., Dray-Spira, R., Weill, A., & Zureik, M. (2017). Human papillomavirus vaccination and risk of autoimmune diseases: A large cohort study of over 2 million young girls in France. Vaccine, 35(36), 4761-4768. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.06.030

Souayah, N., Michas-Martin, P., Nasar, A., Krivitskaya, N., Yacoub, H. A., Khan, H., & Qureshi, A. I. (2011). Guillain–Barré syndrome after Gardasil vaccination: Data from Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System 2006–2009. Vaccine, 29(5), 886-889. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2010.09.020

Baxter, R., Lewis, E., Goddard, K., Fireman, B., Bakshi, N., DeStefano, F., Gee, J., Tseng, H. F., Naleway, A. L., & Klein, N. P. (2016). Acute Demyelinating Events Following Vaccines: A Case-Centered Analysis. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 63(11), 1456-1462. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciw607

Segal, Y., & Shoenfeld, Y. (2018). Vaccine-induced autoimmunity: the role of molecular mimicry and immune crossreaction. Cellular & molecular immunology, 15(6), 586–594. https://doi.org/10.1038/cmi.2017.151

Liang, Z., Zhu, H., Wang, X., Jing, B., Li, Z., Xia, X., Sun, H., Yang, Y., Zhang, W., Shi, L., Zeng, H., & Sun, B. (2020). Adjuvants for Coronavirus Vaccines. Frontiers in immunology, 11, 589833. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2020.589833

CDC. Adjuvants and Vaccines. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/concerns/adjuvants.html

Edwards, D.K., Jasny, E., Yoon, H. et al. Adjuvant effects of a sequence-engineered mRNA vaccine: translational profiling demonstrates similar human and murine innate response. J Transl Med 15, 1 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-016-1111-6

Covid ‘Vaccine Fog’ and What to Do About It

Vojdani, A., & Kharrazian, D. (2020). Potential antigenic cross-reactivity between SARS-CoV-2 and human tissue with a possible link to an increase in autoimmune diseases. Clinical Immunology (Orlando, Fla.), 217, 108480. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clim.2020.108480

Murphy, W. J., & Longo, D. L. (2022). A Possible Role for Anti-idiotype Antibodies in SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Vaccination. The New England journal of medicine, 386(4), 394–396. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMcibr2113694

Spike Protein Disrupting Immunity in Millions After COVID Infection or Vaccination: Here’s How It’s Being Treated

Beyond Detox: Unlocking the Secret Healing Power of the Lymphatic System

Building a Strong Defense: Boost the Lymphatic System and Detoxify After COVID-19 Vaccines

Xie, L., Kang, H., Xu, Q., Chen, M. J., Liao, Y., Thiyagarajan, M., Christensen, D. J., Nicholson, C., Iliff, J. J., Takano, T., Deane, R., & Nedergaard, M. (2013). Sleep Drives Metabolite Clearance from the Adult Brain. Science. https://doi.org/1241224

Lane, K., Worsley, D., & McKenzie, D. (2005). Exercise and the lymphatic system: implications for breast-cancer survivors. Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.), 35(6), 461–471. https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-200535060-00001

Natural Ways to Increase Autophagy and Detox Spike Proteins After COVID Infection, Vaccination

https://react19.org/