In Somebody Else’s Shoes…
Kate’s Story
In Somebody Else’s Shoes…Kate’s Story
“One of the most important aspects of being a human being
is being able to be in a relationship. Being able to successfully
form and maintain a relationship. And at the HEART of that capability is the
capacity to put yourself in somebody else's shoes.
To see the world as how they see it.
That capacity is empathy”
Bruce Perry
Kate is one of the most vibrant, energetic lover of life. When you first meet her she exudes enthusiasm. Kate walks into a room and you notice her. She is one of those people strangers are drawn to. It’s not just her enthusiasm. Kate is also the epitome of empathy.
Kate can see people’s sadness, feel their weakness and vulnerability, and lean into them with a compassionate heart.
Prior to February 16, 2021 Kate had no idea that she would need to use these special powers to help herself-to get up and move each day, to find joy in all circumstances, to learn how to empathize with people who were feeling the same pain as she was. In the past Kate was always stepping into “somebody else's shoes”-leaning into their grief and depression.
Kate had no idea she would be wearing those same shoes-so to speak.
Kate’s hiking boots/shoes
12 hours after Kate’s first vaccine she sat straight up in bed and felt like something was coursing through her body from the injection site, and then she was overcome with, “a sense of impending doom, a foreboding feeling.”
Kate went from perfectly healthy to migraines, muscle aches, and joint pain. Her left arm was swollen and red. Kate was nauseous. She developed tinnitus, vertigo, intense head pressure and was very dizzy. She would run into walls in her house; and sometimes her vision would flip her world upside down. Later she would develop severe bone and joint pain, neuropathic pain, and balance difficulties when walking.
Kate leaned into her well honed skill as a connector and joined multiple Facebook groups about tinnitus and vertigo. She connected with 1000’s of people from around the country, who were suffering from similar symptoms. It felt so good to know that she wasn’t the only one-there were others out there feeling the same things, struggling with the same issues.
Typically every summer Kate and her family would take a canoe and camping trip in the Boundary Waters, MN. Her family would hike, haul, carry, traverse boulders shouldering their canoes, and spend nights under the stars in Voyageurs National Park.
Kate hiking in the Boundary Waters
The first summer of Kate’s vaccine injury her family wasn’t able to spend time Up North. In addition to the above listed symptoms Kate began to have heart issues a few months into her injury. Prior to her vaccine Kate had an echocardiogram and her cardiologist told her, “she had a perfect heart”. Now, Kate was diagnosed with an enlarged heart and struggled with atrial fibrillation. Kate’s heart would race up to 146 beats per minute just walking up a tiny half-flight of stairs. Her family had to make a difficult choice and not visit the Boundary Waters.
However, this setback didn’t stop Kate from wielding her enthusiasm and empathy. She pushed herself to keep connecting with other injured Americans.
One of those people was Brianne Dressen. Brianne was injured during one of the vaccine trials. You can hear her story on Michele Tafoya’s podcast.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZ2725pPPJE
Brianne invited Kate to go to Washington D C with other vaccine injured in November of 2021. The plan was to go to the capitol and meet with Senator Ron Johnson and other interested parties.
Originally, Kate was not going to go D C. She was worried to get on a plane because of her heart issues. She was terrified something would happen mid-air. But, we know Kate-she was also desperate to go. She wanted to meet many of her injured friends in person; and had always had the Holocaust Museum on her bucket list. This was such a tough decision for her. She looked online and there were not any tickets available for the museum when she was supposed to be in D C. Kate took this as a sign it wasn’t meant to be. In spite of her doubts, reservations and fear Kate emailed the director of the Holocaust Museum. She explained her situation, her injury and her bucket list. 5 days before the D C meetings Kate received an email from the Holocaust Museum director who said VIP tickets would be waiting for her at the entrance. This was Kate’s sign-the universe was telling her to go D C-and she went!
In Washington Kate met Suzanna (our first Team Humanity story) along with many other injured Americans.
Kate came home from D C with a renewed spirit. She became determined to go to the Boundary Waters in the Summer of 2022.
Kate was also committed to connect with as many people as she could. Kate joined the group Real Not Rare (www.realnotrare.com).
Now when Kate talked to other injured friends they were not “somebody else’s shoes”-they were her shoes. She truly knew what it felt like to live with daily pain, to live inside a body that wasn’t working, to be scared for the future. Kate took those fears and insecurities and poured her heart out to other injured friends. She spent countless hours counseling them on the phone and connecting with them online. In spite of her own injuries Kate found the capacity to lead with her heart.
Kate
In the summer of 2022 Kate’s family planned their annual trip to the Boundary Waters. Kate was excited, but a little frightened. She was so nervous her body wouldn’t work the way it was supposed to. How was she going to carry a 50 lb. pack up steep hills, when walking was so painful and difficult; or her heart would have scary palpitations? Kate’s kids agreed to carry the heavier gear, so Kate knew she had to do it for herself and her family. She had added different healing regimens, and she thought she could pull it off.
As the departure date drew closer Kate manifested her strength and resiliency by packing her blue pack. It was another sign (like her ticket to the Holocaust Museum) that this was something Kate was supposed to do.
Kate’s blue pack
Kate and her family made it to the Boundary Waters. They had a glorious time in the great outdoors. It wasn’t the same trip as it had been in the past. Her family had to camp for two nights at a time to give her rest, and her daughter thought they might have to airlift her out of the wilderness at one point, but they made it home without intervention. Each day, walking the trails became a little more difficult, and it took her three weeks to recover, and be able to walk normally and without pain; but she still says, “it was worth it”!
Kate and her husband in the Boundary Waters
Kate is Team Humanity. Team Humanity is Kate. Our goal is to share the stories of those who are injured-to give them hope, a chance to connect, to feel like a human being, to know that their life matters.
As Christine Evangelou says, “empathy speaks to us in the silent moments…it tells us that each soul is worthy, valued, loved and honored.”
If you would like to learn more about Kate you can hear her tell her story in the Intellectual Takeout online journal.
https://intellectualtakeout.org/2022/07/kate-zerby-vaccine-survivor/
Kate’s story was also mentioned in a Reuter’s article about the CICP program.
All stories are edited and approved by the participant before the story is published.
What a sad, evil thing it is to overlook and gaslight people in their time of need- as most of our nation has done these past few years.
I have experienced the emotional struggle of illness and isolation.. it is so very hard
https://open.substack.com/pub/thecriticalmiddle/p/hidden-options-in-health-care-part-a8f?utm_source=direct&r=1sr0c7&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
I look forward to the day that injuries like Kate’s are acknowledged, mourned and healed. 🙏🏻
Kate is a delight. Thank you for capturing her energy and enthusiasm for life in this post. Kate gives her extra energy to those suffering. She is a well of hope and inspiration for those who recognized their own vaccine injuries and found Kate's story online. She's suffers discrimination and shaming by people, and institutions near and dear to her. Yet, she uses it all for good. I am so thankful for my sweet friend Kate and for all the love and joy she brings to the world.