Craig

A commitment to storytelling

In 2001 Craig, a proud father of two, joined the staff at KARE 11 news, the local NBC affiliate, as a photojournalist/visual storyteller and video editor.  His position included accompanying reporters to news locations and shooting video and sound for stories, and then editing those stories into a completed product.  He loved his job and was proud to be a member of a news team that strived to, “serve the greater good of its community.”  Craig saw first hand how sharing stories can change people’s lives.  Stories provide hope; an opportunity to connect with others who may or may not understand you; and a glimpse into the suffering or joy someone else is feeling.

Quickly Craig started to take on more tasks and responsibility at Kare 11.  He occasionally was asked to do location shoots without an accompanying reporter and was producing his own stories.  He was a valued employee who worked hard; and was committed to getting to know the people he interviewed and telling their story authentically.

Craig has a passion for sports, especially football.  In 2002 he partnered with Randy Shaver, a long time KARE-11 Sports Director, now News Anchor, and started to produce the Spotlight Game for the Friday night show The Prep Sports Extra.  It is a highly popular and long-time running high school football highlights show.  It will be in its 40th year this fall of 2023.  

This assignment led to a new appointment within the news organization.  In 2017 Craig became an on-air TV personality and co-hosted and co-produced an online high school preview show called the Prep Preview Show, now in its 7th year.  In addition to previewing games throughout the state of Minnesota, Craig and Randy interview athletes and coaches and share their stories both on and off the field.  Throughout the course of his news career and passionate involvement with Prep football; Craig created connections with countless communities across Minnesota and was known as a true team member at the station.

In the beginning of 2022 Craig was given the greenlight by his News Director to launch an online fitness show highlighting all elements of a healthy lifestyle including fitness goals, diet tips, creative ways to workout, and so much more.  The format was designed to be informative, but also entertaining and humorous. Craig was ecstatic to produce his own show.  

Unfortunately in November of that year this goal came to a screeching halt.  All of his career and personal plans were derailed by a vaccine injury.

Craig’s injury started with a really bad cold and sinus infection that couldn’t be healed with 3 courses of antibiotics.  Multiple visits to urgent care facilities did not provide any answers.  Craig’s multiple Covid tests were all negative.  

On November 3rd Craig received his third vaccine and rapidly went down hill physically.  He developed joint pain, brain fog, hand tremors, burning in the tips of his fingers, headaches, and his left thigh was constantly burning. The most overwhelming symptom was an exhaustion level that was literally incapacitating.  Craig tried to muscle through his pain and debilitating fatigue; however, his long work hours became unbearable.  One month later Craig was on disability and trying to survive each day.

Craig did not recognize himself.  Just a few years before his injury he was competing in fitness events and obstacle course races while continuing to train at his local gym.  When he was 42 Craig finished in the top 1% of a 12 mile, 24 obstacle Tough Mudder competition and qualified for Tough Mudder nationals.  Craig had always put a value on his health.  He was dedicated to working out 6-7 days a week, eating healthy and listening to his body.  How had his body failed him in every way?  Was he ever going to feel like himself again?

During the winter of 2023 Craig met with multiple specialty doctors.  In addition to all of his other symptoms he started to lose his balance and motor control.  The doctors didn’t have any answers nor suggestions of how Craig could begin to heal himself.  Craig felt completely isolated.  He didn’t know anyone else who was suffering from these same symptoms.  He was desperate for answers and for a healing plan, but couldn’t find a practitioner to acknowledge his injury.  One doctor even alluded to the fact that all of this might be in Craig’s head and recommended that he see a psychotherapist.

Craig believes he wouldn’t have survived this dark winter without his partner Christine’s support.  Each day she coached Craig to keep trying, to make it to the next day.  Christine sat with him, cared for him, and told him that his life mattered.  She encouraged him to not give up and believed they would find an answer.  The overwhelming genuine love and positive energy Christine constantly offered to Craig got him through each day. On the really bad days when Craig’s physical pain and mental torment were excruciating Christine was by his side coaching and comforting him minute by minute to just keep trying.

In March of 2023 Craig’s chiropractor came to Craig saying she remembered attending a medical conference where she met an osteopathic doctor who was treating various illnesses that other doctors could not diagnose. Craig found this doctor and made an appointment right away.  He felt that he had no other choice.  He couldn’t continue to live the way he was living.

At his first appointment in April of 2023 this doctor asked to look at all of Craig’s blood work and when he did, he connected the dots in a way that no other practitioner had been able to do.  All of his yearly physicals prior to his vaccine injury showed no signs of underlying issues and all of his blood levels were in the normal range.  On December 1st, 27 days after his 3rd booster shot, Craig’s immune system numbers had started to drop dramatically.  On December 27th, 54 days after his booster shot, Craig’s immune system was almost non-existent.  His white blood cells, neutrophils, and lymphocytes were incredibly low.  

Craig’s doctor discovered that dormant Epstein-Barr virus had been reactivated when his active immunity stopped working.  The active marker for Epstein-Barr virus affecting the body is 17 or higher and Craig’s marker was 408.  Additionally, they discovered that dormant Lyme disease was reactivated also because of the lack of a properly functioning immune system. 

When Craig realized that he had found a doctor who finally figured out the problem, he fell into tears in the doctor’s office.  For the first time since November he felt acknowledged.  He felt seen.  He wasn’t just another statistic.  He was a person with a life that he wanted to desperately return to. The doctor acknowledged Craig’s emotion and tears.  He held Craig’s arm and said, “I just want to give you hope when you leave my office.”  This simple sentence was all Craig needed to hear.  Rather than feeling defeated and doubtful regarding his survival he became convicted to heal himself with this doctor’s help.

Craig started a multitude of therapies including EBOO ozone blood transfusions, methylene blue IV drips, and integrative peptide therapies.  EBOO (extracorporeal blood oxygenation and ozonation) therapy is similar to dialysis.  A special filter is used to detoxify and clean out the patient's blood.  It helps to eliminate heavy metals and toxic substances.  Methylene Blue IV’s are used to help deliver more oxygen to all of your body systems.  Peptide therapy involves stimulating and introducing more peptides into your body; which in turn decreases inflammation, encourages your body to make more tissue, repair your muscles, and regulate and rejuvenate bodily functions.

It has been only two months since Craig first met with his doctor and he is feeling like himself again.  He has more energy, his pain has significantly decreased, and his brain doesn’t feel as foggy.  It is truly a miracle.  Craig feels so blessed to have found a doctor that was able to heal him; and who acknowledged and diagnosed his vaccine injury.  

Craig started back at work this week (June 19, 2023) and is thrilled to be behind the camera shooting stories, interacting with his coworkers, and producing news segments.  Throughout this journey Craig’s coworkers stepped up and took care of him.  They texted him messages of support and encouragement, sent him emails asking about his daily struggles, and dropped off meals.  Their compassion and concern during his struggles speaks volumes about Kare 11 and its employees. 

Craig is currently working on a very personal story-his own story.  He believes that, “God gives people only what they can handle and then asks them to help others who are in a similar situation.”  It is Craig’s mission to ensure that all of the vaccine injured feel seen, heard, acknowledged and loved.  Craig is in a unique position. Above all else he is a storyteller.  He has partnered with another reporter and their goal is to produce a segment regarding the isolation and loneliness that happens when someone is vaccine injured.  Craig wants to bring hope and encouragement to the vaccine injured just like his doctor did for him.

Craig’s biography includes the following statement:

“I'm passionate about telling stories that will change our world and impact the people we tell them to, to live and be inspired.”

Team Humanity has a similar mission statement:

“Team Humanity is a place for the injured and non-injured to gather, connect, and support each other.  We believe in the power of telling stories; sharing first hand accounts of injuries.  Our goals are to bring a voice to the voiceless; to show light when there is darkness; and to provide hope for those who are suffering.”

We are so grateful to have met Craig, to introduce him to our vaccine injured community, and to encourage him to keep telling stories.  As our friend Kim says, “every time you tell your story a little piece of you heals from your trauma.”

A personal statement from Craig:

“This story is my story about my injury, subsequent isolation, and path to healing and finding hope. For the last 3 years we have all had different struggles, journeys and experiences. Some of these journeys have been protective, positive and without negative consequence. But we need to listen to every story in order to help those who are suffering. “