Our Story
This post is intensely personal, and to many it will feel controversial. Feel free to skip, mute, or unfollow me. Boundaries are important, though, so I reserve the right to moderate comments for charity.
MY FAMILY HAS A HISTORY OF NEUROLOGICAL AND AUTOIMMUNE ADVERSE REACTIONS TO VACCINES.
Do you believe me?
If you said yes, thank you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for believing me.
If the answer is no, may I ask why not?
Would you believe me if I told you my child had a peanut allergy or an allergy to penicillin? Would you ask me invasive questions about how I know these things, demand proof, or tell me it was all in my mind?
Why do we should “believe women” from the rooftops... until it comes to vaccines?
A higher-than-average risk of adverse reactions is one the crosses my family and I have to bear, and as with all my crosses, I thank the Lord that He allows me to suffer a little with Him.
Besides, I’ve carried this cross for 16 years and will likely carry it until I die. The weight is steady on my shoulder now.
The other, much heavier and more wobbly cross is the one of being wildly unpopular and/or considered crazy. My pride still begs to be affirmed, the middle school girl in me doesn’t want to be cast aside.
And yet, here I am.
The greater good begins in the home. It begins with me caring for my family so they stay as healthy as possible. Only after this primary responsibility is met do I look to my neighbors. And the Church tells me how to love them as well:
The Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy
feed the hungry
give drink to the thirsty
clothes the naked
shelter the homeless
visit the sick
visit the imprisoned
instruct the ignorant
counsel the doubtful
bear wrongs patiently
forgive those who hurt you
comfort
pray for the living and the dead
Our culture would have us believe that most of the works of mercy are either useless or downright dangerous, forbidden by our leaders. And this, even as our culture becomes more oppressive about the supposed “charity” of vaccines…
inventing its own secular works of mercy.
It is clear to me that to remain silent is to assent to this lie: that the best and only way to love my neighbor is to get an injection that I oppose on both medical and moral grounds.
I will say it again: this is a lie. I firmly reject it.
Instead, I will firmly cling to the truth that the Church has passed down through the ages:
Loving my neighbor includes both body and soul, and it never asks me to violate my conscience or put my family at risk.
Final thoughts. Many of you will be angry with me for this post. But I believe there is one person who needs to hear she is not alone. She is not crazy or evil or selfish for protecting her own child or herself. If this person is you, then listen well: the enemy wants you to feel crazy and alone, but you are not. I am with you, as is our wonderful God. And you will be in my prayers.
{I’m not opposed to vaccines, and I don’t judge people who use them. Not at all. I have serious concerns about the financial and societal structure we have built around this one type of pharmaceutical product, but when it comes down to it, my ultimate desires are: safer and more ethical options, and to maintain the right to decline them if the risks outweigh the benefits. Check out @catholics_for_medical_freedom for more on this.}
