Sheila Bath, a 60-something chef and life coach from Connecticut, first suspected she’d been injured by the single-dose Johnson & Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine on April 11, 2021 — exactly 14 days after she got the vaccine.
In an exclusive interview with The Defender, Bath said her initial symptoms included a burning sensation running from her legs to her spine and numbness in her feet. The symptoms lasted for two months.
“My legs were burning from my ankle all the way up to my lower spine on both sides. Burning, burning, burning,” Bath said. “My feet were numb. It was burning out the nerves in my legs and in my spine.”
She said she also sustained “terrible bruising” on her extremities, dry mouth, worsening vision, inability to walk, cysts on her kidneys, gallstones in her bladder, calf cramps, muscle spasms, depression, brain fog and 20 lbs. of water-weight gain.
These are “classical Guillain-Barré Syndrome symptoms,” Beth said.
Bath suspected the vaccine triggered the symptoms, but doctors were initially reluctant to draw the same conclusion.
Bath told The Defender:
“I didn’t know what Guillain-Barré was, but it’s a very well-known thing that you have to go directly to the hospital. And [my neurologist] could have sent me directly to the hospital. The neurologist neglected to follow the protocol of getting me into hospital when they could have cured it.”
“Three times I went back to him and he sent me home,” she said, telling her, “There’s nothing wrong with you. You’ve got neuropathy because you’re older.”
When Bath told her doctor the only explanation she could think of was that she’d been vaccinated two-and-a-half weeks ago, “He practically kicked me out of the office,” she said. “And then I called back a third time. I said, my legs are still burning up … can you help me? And they refused to see me.”
Then things got worse.
More than a year after getting the J&J vaccine, Bath began to experience new symptoms, including partial digestive paralysis, which she said “means the COVID-19 spike protein [was] still alive, doing damage,” even though it is “supposed to be a dead virus, we were told.”
Doctors attributed the new symptoms to Crohn’s disease, a type of inflammatory bowel disorder, because Bath had a history of autoimmune disease.
But Bath disagreed with that diagnosis:
“I felt like saying, honey, I had Crohn’s when nobody knew Crohn’s, and I had to fight my way through that for 13 years. I said, that is not Crohn’s … That is the paralysis from the shot.”
Bath described being “chided and yelled at” by doctors for even suggesting her health troubles were related to the vaccine. According to her, it was not until she visited a naturopathic doctor that she finally received care, attention and a concrete diagnosis.
She said:
“I walked in, he took one look at me and he said, ‘I know what you got.’ [The] first time I saw him, he says, ‘you’ve got paralysis in your spine and in your legs. Did you take the [Johnson & Johnson vaccine] or what other one?’
“He said, ‘I’ve got an antidote for that, a homeopathic antidote for peristalsis.’ And sure enough, it worked. Now, did it work perfectly? No. But what it did do was save my life.”
According to Bath, when she shared the news of this successful treatment with her cardiologist, “She started screaming at me, this nice, gentle woman who isn’t even connected to the vaccine.”
Forced to get vaccine by employer
Bath was initially reluctant to get a COVID-19 vaccine, she said, but was required to get it for employment reasons.
She opted to receive the single-dose J&J vaccine because, “I figured, well, one [dose] is better than two.”
Although Bath acknowledged there was information available advising people with autoimmune conditions to avoid the J&J vaccine, she said she was “in remission for 20 years through natural means.”
But she also believes she wouldn’t necessarily have been better off getting the Pfizer or some other COVID-19 vaccine.
“Who knows? If I was pressured into taking the Pfizer [vaccine], maybe I would have been worse off,” Bath said.
Bath also noted that the specific J&J dose she received came from the Baltimore Emergent BioSolutions manufacturing plant that subsequently was shut down after reports of regulatory problems.
The injuries and adverse effects Bath sustained have been debilitating in terms of her ability to work.
Bath told The Defender:
“I used to work 10-12 hours a day. I have not been able to work in 16 months. My neurologist also refused disability, [putting] me into poverty.
“My greatest fear is being homeless. I’ve happily worked my whole life, never asked for help … I was crying every day and definitely suicidal … I haven’t been able to work and [this experience] totally put me into poverty. I’ve been very close to homelessness a few times … I ran through all my money.”
Fortunately, she said, she discovered the Vaccine Injury/Side Effects Support Group, featured last month by The Defender.
Bath said membership in the support group resulted in her “confirming that I was not alone, and that doctors were purposely lying, all over the world,” adding, “Thank God for Catherine’s group,” referring to its founder, Catherine Parker, who also was injured by the J&J vaccine.
“We all share information, symptom, and information on what is helping us,” said Bath, referring to her interactions with other members of the support group.
According to Bath, seeing the large number of participants in such groups and interacting with them has “broken my heart,” but at the same time, has provided a degree of comfort, “knowing that I’m not out of my mind.
“Doctors tell me I’m nuts,” said Bath. “I’ve never seen such meanness in my life,” adding, “You know, friends disappear, family disappears. So thank God for these groups, but I wish they weren’t necessary.”
The support group faces challenges, however, according to Bath — namely, attempted censorship by Facebook, where the group is hosted.
“The fact that we’re connecting — they keep trying to knock us off,” said Bath.
Bath told The Defender that prior to her injuries, she was planning for a new phase in her life — life coaching.
“Helping people, helping prevent Crohn’s disease, helping prevent food poisoning … I already had it set up … and I’d have a full life. It was planned out … I loved every bit of what I was doing.”
Her injuries have delayed but not ended her plan. She told The Defender she has completed a life coach trauma healing certification, adding:
“My assignment is helping people get as better as possible, and I’m getting that extra certification for trauma because we’ve all been traumatized for the last five or six years.
“And to add to that … my two majors now are helping people with Crohn’s disease, but mostly with the vaccine injuries … those are my two goals.”
Through this, Bath hopes that she can sensitize the broader public to what is happening.
“We need the public to know this is not political,” Bath said. “Both sides of the aisle have been hurt, and we are in this together.
She added: “We can’t trust the regulators because they’re all owned by Yale and Harvard and everything else.”
This article was originally published by The Defender — Children’s Health Defense’s News & Views Website under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Please consider subscribing to The Defender or donating to Children’s Health Defense.
Starting the Day With a Scripture-Inspired Roast Helps Center Your Thoughts on Eternal Truths Amid Temporal Pressures
The world can seem chaotic, especially right after we wake up. Many believers start their mornings reaching for something familiar — a hot cup of coffee — yet end up settling for mediocre brews that do little more than deliver a caffeine jolt. The daily grind of life, with its endless distractions, news cycles, and responsibilities, can leave even the most faithful feeling spiritually parched alongside their physical fatigue. What if your morning ritual could do more than wake you up? What if it could ground you in truth, nourish your body with exceptional quality, and quietly advance a kingdom purpose at the same time?
That’s the promise — and the reality — behind Promised Grounds Coffee. This Christian-founded company doesn’t just roast beans; it approaches every step as an act of worship and discipleship. By selecting only the top 10% of specialty-grade beans, ethically sourced from dedicated farmers in Central and South America, and small-batch roasting them with reverence in Austin, Texas, Promised Grounds delivers what many describe as the best coffee available — never burnt, never bland, but rich with origin stories and layered flavors that honor God’s creation.
From the vibrant Psalm 27 Roast (a light, bright medium option) to the bold yet peaceful 2 Timothy 1:7 Decaf, each bag carries a Scripture verse that turns your daily pour into a gentle reminder of faith. And through their Ounce Per Ounce Promise, every ounce of coffee you enjoy provides an equal ounce of clean water to families in need via partnership with Filter of Hope — literally brewing hope for body and soul, one cup at a time.
The challenge for today’s Christians runs deeper than finding a decent cup. In an age of convenience-driven consumerism, it’s easy to support companies that dilute values or remain silent on matters of faith. Many believers want their everyday choices — from what they drink to how they spend — to reflect discipleship rather than just convenience. Promised Grounds solves this by weaving Christian excellence into the entire process: beans nurtured with prayerful stewardship by farming families, roasted as an offering rather than a commodity, and packaged with Bible verses to encourage a mindset of gratitude and purpose from the first sip. Reviewers consistently praise the smooth, rich profiles — whether enjoyed black in a drip maker, iced on a warm day, or shared in fellowship — noting how the quality stands toe-to-toe with premium secular brands while delivering something far more meaningful.
This integration of faith and flavor addresses a real need in Christian households and ministries. Busy parents, church leaders, and remote workers alike report that starting the day with a Scripture-inspired roast helps center their thoughts on eternal truths amid temporal pressures. The coffee’s exceptional character — bright citrus notes in lighter roasts or deep chocolate undertones in bolder ones — comes from meticulous selection and careful roasting that respects the bean’s natural gifts rather than masking them. It’s the kind of coffee that elevates a simple quiet time, fuels productive workdays, or sparks meaningful conversations when shared at Bible studies or outreach events. And because it’s ethically sourced with integrity, every purchase supports sustainable livelihoods for farmers who treat their crops like family harvests.
For those leading churches or small groups, the impact multiplies. Promised Grounds offers bundles and options perfect for hospitality ministries, turning ordinary coffee service into an opportunity to point people toward the living water of Christ. Imagine greeting visitors with a warm cup whose very bag carries God’s Word — a subtle yet powerful witness that aligns with the Great Commission. The company’s Texas roots and commitment to “brewing hope” resonate especially with believers who value American enterprise paired with global compassion.
Of course, quality alone isn’t enough if the experience feels out of reach. Promised Grounds keeps it accessible with practical perks like free shipping on orders over $40, sample sets for discovering favorites, and thoughtful add-ons such as faith-themed mugs. Whether you prefer whole beans for fresh grinding, grounds for convenience, or even bulk options for larger households and ministries, the result is consistently superior coffee that makes discipleship feel integrated rather than added on.
As you consider how to align even the smallest habits with your walk with God, Promised Grounds Coffee stands out as a refreshing solution. It tackles the dual problems of subpar daily sustenance and disconnected consumption by offering a product that genuinely excels in taste while advancing a mission of clean water, farmer dignity, and scriptural encouragement. Believers who make the switch often describe it as more than a beverage upgrade — it becomes part of their rhythm of gratitude, a daily invitation to remember that every good gift comes from above.
If you’re ready to transform your mornings (and perhaps your church gatherings) with coffee that honors both exceptional craftsmanship and Christian values, I encourage you to explore what Promised Grounds has to offer. One sip at a time, you’ll be nourishing your body, refreshing your spirit, and participating in something far greater — all while enjoying what truly is among the best coffee available.
