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Q&A: Recovery Progress and Courage to Speak Publicly

Day 3 · 1:19:57 · Carol Messenger · Dean Allison · Myriam Bohémier

  • 📈 Carol estimates 90% recovery from wheelchair and full-time catheter dependence, crediting pre-injury fitness and refusal of self-pity.
  • 🎤 Discussing intimate details live is daunting yet she rejects silence so others stop feeling gaslit or alone.
  • 🌍 Chair affirms her testimony will inspire far more than one person watching worldwide.

Final exchange on healing trajectory and the value of public storytelling.

← Q&A: Family Impact and Vaccine Injury Support Program Ordeal | Carole Avoine Sworn: AstraZeneca and Sudden Bell’s Palsy →

Transcript

Carol Messenger · 1:19:57

Oh, after the injury, all the costs that haven't— oh, well, of course, all the medical supplies that I needed, the rehab, everything from neurophysio. I mean, I was trying to do everything. Rehab, Pilates. There's the thing. Neurophysio. The hospital was giving rehab, massage, every— I was so determined that I just— because I was very fit and healthy, too. So I just did everything that I could possibly do to rewire my muscles, my brain, so I could live a healthy and happy life for myself, my husband, our family.

Dean Allison · 1:20:29

How are you? How are you feeling today? Do you feel like you've been improving or are you declining? Like, you feel like you're making progress?

Carol Messenger · 1:20:38

I feel like I've made significant progress. I think part of what has kept me in the healing road is that I always, you know, self-pity is not an option. I look at others and I go, there's so many other people affected so much worse than me. And not to minimize how devastating this has been to me and my family and our trust in this whole, whole outlay of the vaccinations. I'm sorry, I forgot your question because that's also something too. The brain fog has been really terrible since all of this, and I keep thinking it's just menopause, but I really think it's—.

Dean Allison · 1:21:13

I was just talking about recovery. Look, she felt— you're—.

Carol Messenger · 1:21:15

No, my recovery, say about 90%. I feel like I've recovered about from being in a wheelchair, walker, catheters, all of that.

Dean Allison · 1:21:24

I feel like I'm about 90%, and I'm always optimistic that Well, that'd probably be because of what a determined person you are and how healthy you were before and how disciplined you were before, right?

Carol Messenger · 1:21:33

I think absolutely. I think all those things, the love and support I got has given me the strength.

Dean Allison · 1:21:39

Do you feel like you said, you know, in terms of, um, being able to discuss this, you did sort of touch on that a bit. Do you feel it's been difficult to talk about these things, like your, your injury as, as it relates to a vaccine injury versus something else, are we?

Carol Messenger · 1:21:54

For sure.

Carol Messenger · 1:21:54

On a few levels, you know, like even Sean asking me such a personal, intimate, you know, question and, you know, we're live and everyone in the world is hearing about my vagina. You know, I mean, that's a bit daunting to be quite frank. But also sometimes, yeah, a fear of like there's a lot of people with some strong opinions, right? But I can't worry about that. This is my story, this is my life, and you can think and believe what you want, but until you've walked a mile in most of these people's shoes— and I hear people like, I don't know anyone injured, you know, it's like, now you do.

Myriam Bohémier · 1:22:31

Yeah.

Dean Allison · 1:22:33

Well, and I think the other thing too is like what we're trying to do, right? We want to give people permission to talk about their stories publicly, right? You can't start the healing, you can't do anything if we can't discuss this.

Carol Messenger · 1:22:44

And if it helps one other person, me coming here all across the country, is that if it helps even one person not feel alone and not feel gaslit, and it makes them feel like, you know, she got through it, he got through it, then it's worth it.

Dean Allison · 1:23:01

Well, I guarantee you're going to help more than one person. As, as so many people are following what, what's going on here around the world and in Canada, uh, we really, we really pray that you're your, your story is going to be an inspiration for others as well in terms of that. I, I can't thank you enough for coming, and for your kids, uh, for being here is supportive. Thank you. You guys have traveled a great distance, and so, uh, I just want to thank you once again for taking the time to be here. Is there any other final questions from any of my colleagues?

Myriam Bohémier · 1:23:29

Okay, thank you.

Dean Allison · 1:23:30

Thank you, thanks, Carol. Appreciate it so much.