Ruettgers said it has now been eight months since Sheryl received the shot, and her numbness and tingling sensations have gotten progressively worse. Frustrated, he thought, “If I was a politician, I mean, this is so low-hanging fruit of how easy it is to help people.” He pointed out that “all these people want is to be heard, studied, helped, and believed.”
He had never met Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) but remembered seeing him in several interviews over the last few years, adding that he “loves Wisconsin and its people so Wisconsin is on his radar.” Plus, having played for the Green Bay Packers for twelve years and being inducted into their Hall of Fame, he said to himself, “this should be a no-brainer.” Ruettgers, who clearly has a great deal of respect for Senator Johnson, continued:
“So when I saw this guy who seemed like a very good man and a decent human being, a guy that makes logical sense who is just a practical, regular guy who is not a career politician who wants to help our country, and I saw that he was from Wisconsin, I took note. I cold-called his office, and by that night, a Thursday, I was talking to Senator Johnson on the phone.”
Senator Johnson Holds June 28, 2021, Press Conference
Johnson listened intently as Ruettger shared the story about his wife and the others in the group and was anxious to hear from them in person. By Sunday—three days later—Johnson, along with a doctor he had invited, spent two hours listening to the group and taking notes. Next, Johnson suggested they hold a press conference, which is what led them to the Milwaukee Federal Courthouse on June 28th.
Ruettgers described the press conference—where his wife and other vaccine-injured Americans spoke, including a twelve-year-old who is now in a wheelchair with a feeding tube—as “tear-jerking.” The same day, Senators Ron Johnson and Michael S. Lee sent a letter to Walensky and Woodcock seeking acknowledgment of the adverse events following receipt of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Thank you, Ron Senator Johnson for helping us to be seen, heard, and believed. https://t.co/Pu1ubULyIF
— C19 Vax Reactions (@C19Vax) June 30, 2021
.@SenRonJohnson, you’re being reckless and irresponsible. The #COVID19 vaccine is safe and effective and based on years of science and research. Every time you suggest otherwise, you’re jeopardizing the health and safety of the people of our state and our economic recovery.
— Governor Tony Evers (@GovEvers) June 25, 2021
In what he characterized as bizarre, Ruettgers noted that after his wife and the others finished sharing their accounts of getting the vaccine and subsequently suffering devastating injuries from it, the six camera crews and 6 to 8 print reporters present did not ask a single question. Frustrated, he remarked that we do more for people suffering from peanut allergies than those injured after getting a COVID-19 vaccine. He continued:
“We study peanut allergies, and we study people with peanut allergies. We accommodate people with peanut allergies. We accommodate and study peanut allergies more than we do people injured from COVID vaccines. The FDA, CDC, NIH, and drug companies have known about [vaccine injuries] since late last year. They’re withholding putting those issues on the full consent form—that is criminal.”
“It makes you really wonder about the doubling, tripling, and quadrupling down on these things in the face of data, facts, and science. It does make you wonder what is driving this thing.”
A Few of Their Stories
Stephanie de Garay is a mother from Cincinnati, Ohio, whose daughter, Maddie, participated in the Pfizer Covid vaccine trial in December and January. After Maddie received her second dose of the vaccine, she experienced severe side effects that resulted in multiple hospitalizations.
Kristi Dobbs is a dental hygienist from Webb City, Missouri, who received the Pfizer Covid vaccine in January. Since her vaccination, she has experienced multiple severe side effects, including pain, paresthesia and heart palpitations.
Brianne Dressen is a preschool teacher from Saratoga Springs, Utah, who received the Astra Zeneca Covid vaccine during a clinical trial in November. She has since experienced extensive adverse effects from the vaccine that has resulted in a medical bill of over $250,000.
Candace Hayden is from Detroit, Michigan, and received both doses of the Moderna vaccine in March. In April, she suffered from paresthesia and partial paralysis from the chest down, which lead to a month-long hospital stay and weeks of physical therapy.
Ken Ruettgers, a former Green Bay Packers offensive lineman, and his wife, Sheryl, received the Moderna vaccine in January. Four days after receiving the first dose, Sheryl experienced severe neurological reactions that still inhibit her ability to live a normal life, including muscle pain, numbness, weakness and paresthesia.