Julie Woods
Day 3 · September 10, 2026 · 0:29:02
Key points Julie Woods is a 29-year-old former college athlete and master's student in counseling psychology who was healthy and active before vaccination. She says lab testing through a University Health Network research study confirmed she did not have COVID, tying her illness to the vaccine rather than long COVID. She recounts developing numbness, tingling, and burning pain in her legs within a month of her second Pfizer dose in June 2021. She says symptoms worsened and spread to her full body after a third Pfizer dose in December 2021, becoming chronic, debilitating pain. She testifies she saw 23 Canadian doctors, was called stupid, incompetent, and a drug addict, and told vaccines don't cause such injuries. She says she finally paid to travel to Utah in 2024, where she was diagnosed with small fiber neuropathy and POTS. She co-founded CanRise19 to support Canadian vaccine-injured people and warns many members are considering MAID or suicide without treatment.
Speaker 1
0:01 So we are now going to move our next witness now is Julie Woods. 0:07 Julie, welcome to the Allison inquiry. Speaker 1
0:11 So you already have the Bible in your right hand. 0:14 Julie Woods, do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. 0:20 So help you God. Speaker 1
0:25 Now, um, 0:27 Just because in some people's mind long COVID is an issue, yours is an interesting case is that it's conclusive that you did not have COVID when you were injured because of lab testing that was done. Speaker 2
0:45 That is correct. 0:45 There was lab testing done through a research study that I was a part of at the University Health Network that was able to definitively determine that 0:56 I did not have COVID as of 2023. Speaker 1
1:01 Now, how are you doing today? 1:03 Because I will get into it, but you you're starting a new treatment. 1:08 And when we spoke, you had kind of been bumped up to a larger dose yesterday and we weren't sure if you'd be OK. Speaker 2
1:15 Yes, it's been a very rough morning. 1:19 The side effects are honestly the most intense they have ever been, but I would not miss this opportunity for the world. Speaker 1
1:27 Okay, well, we appreciate that. 1:29 Can you share with us what you are experiencing today for side effects? Speaker 2
1:33 Yeah, absolutely. 1:34 So... 1:37 The nausea is pretty bad. 1:39 To be honest, I was sick this morning from the side effects. 1:45 And I get severe headaches from the treatment and am not able to think straight. 1:54 So more so than usual, I'm experiencing like the bearing fog, memory issues, thought patterns are very difficult to hold on to. Speaker 1
2:10 We'll be very careful as we go together, but you undertook a treatment yesterday. 2:16 The initials are SCIG, which is an intravenous treatment that... Speaker 2
2:23 Yes, so it's a subcutaneous immune globulin is the long form of it. 2:28 So it's a form of immunotherapy that I was just able to start approximately seven weeks ago. 2:37 Although, as we'll probably get into in more detail, this therapy was recommended by my doctor in Utah two years ago for me. 2:48 And it's taken this long to get access to the treatment in Canada. 2:52 And unfortunately, as a result, my condition has progressed significantly. Speaker 1
2:59 Right. 2:59 And I mean, we're there now, so we will get there again. 3:02 But so if you had gotten this treatment earlier, you would not have deteriorated as much as you have. Speaker 2
3:10 That is the belief. 3:11 Yes. Speaker 1
3:11 Yeah. 3:12 So and I don't think it will shock most people that if somebody is deteriorating, that maybe if you help them, that you'll have better outcomes. 3:22 And 3:23 When we were talking, not today, but on an earlier occasion, you actually even expressed to me guilt that you were getting this treatment. 3:32 And can you share with us why you would feel guilty after waiting two years to be able to access this? Speaker 2
3:40 Yeah, absolutely. 3:42 So unfortunately, many Canadians experience 3:50 not only difficulty, but an impossibility of accessing these immunotherapies in Canada. 3:59 As many as my colleagues have testified, these treatments are very, very heavily gatekeepers in Canada, and it is next to impossible. 4:11 to access them. 4:12 So although I know that there's many other people out there like me who could benefit from these therapies and who would have been more likely to benefit from these therapies years ago, they're not able to access them. 4:30 So although it did take a long time for me, I am incredibly lucky because there are the majority of our members at CanRise19 that 4:42 don't have their conditions diagnosed and they're not able to access these treatments. Speaker 1
4:47 Okay. 4:48 So let's, I'm just going to now introduce you to the inquiry, but you're 29 and you've spoken about CanRise19. 4:56 You're a co-founder of CanRise19. 4:58 And I will ask you later about CanRise19. 5:03 You're working on a master's degree in counseling psychology. 5:08 You were a 5:10 a recreational athlete, you played basketball, volleyball, you were a long-distance runner, badminton, you were on the women's volleyball team in college, you worked full-time between two jobs, and health prior, you had no health issues. 5:26 So you're basically a young college student when COVID hits who was extremely active in sports and extremely healthy. Speaker 2
5:37 That's correct. 5:38 At that time, my favorite quote was, it's more than just a game. 5:42 It's a way of life. 5:44 Because to me, it was particularly volleyball. Speaker 1
5:50 Right. 5:51 Okay. 5:51 And you still coach. 5:53 I do. 5:53 Yes. 5:54 So, okay. 5:55 We'll go into that in a moment. 5:57 Now, as far as your vaccines go, so you get in May 16, 2021, the Pfizer shot. 6:06 And that was really uneventful, the first one, as I understand it. 6:10 But on June 26, 2021, you get the second Pfizer shot. 6:15 Can you share with us what happened after that? Speaker 2
6:19 Yeah, so after the second vaccine, within the first month, I began experiencing numbness, tingling, and pain, which I now know is referred to as paresthesia. 6:30 And at that point, the symptoms were from my knees down 6:38 And within the month I presented to... Can I just slow you down here? Speaker 1
6:44 So this is, this is both of your legs. 6:48 And so basically from the knees down, this tingling numbness and pain on a scale of 10, like what, what would the pain level be? Speaker 2
6:59 At that point it was approximately five, six. Speaker 1
7:02 Okay. 7:02 So this is very uncomfortable. Speaker 1
7:05 And 7:05 How long is it going on? 7:07 Like, is this constant? Speaker 2
7:10 It was fairly constant, but not as much, though, as it is now. Speaker 1
7:15 Okay. 7:16 So what are you thinking here? 7:19 Because it also, like, this went on for months and months and months. 7:23 I guess it's still going on. Speaker 2
7:26 So this time around, following the second dose, it lasted for four months. 7:31 The symptoms did go away after that four-month period, but they did come back after the third dose. Speaker 1
7:39 Right. 7:39 And it also affected the distance you could walk, right? 7:43 And your endurance, right? 7:45 Your second shot? Speaker 2
7:46 Yeah. 7:46 So since I wasn't able to participate in team sports throughout COVID, I turned to walking as a form of exercise. 7:55 And before I took the COVID vaccines, I was still able to go three, four kilometers a day. 8:02 And after taking the second dose, that decreased to approximately one to two kilometers at most. Speaker 1
8:10 Did you in any way attribute this to the vaccine at the time? Speaker 2
8:14 Not immediately. 8:16 What actually ended up being the contributing factor for me associating my symptoms with the COVID vaccines was that I presented to urgent care because there was concern that I might have had blood clots. 8:30 And it was actually the staff at urgent care who specifically asked me which COVID vaccine I took. 8:37 And until that point, I didn't think that it could have been related to 8:44 The COVID vaccines, but why ask a question if there's no possible relation? Speaker 1
8:51 Yeah, no, that's pretty telling, isn't it? 8:54 When they're asking you which vaccine you took, because they're not asking you what you ate for breakfast. Speaker 1
9:02 Or, you know, did your parents have this problem? Speaker 1
9:06 They're asking you which vaccine you took. 9:10 So but you still then decided to take a third vaccine. Speaker 1
9:15 So and that was on December 21st, 2021. 9:18 Again, Pfizer. 9:20 Can you share with us what happened after that? Speaker 2
9:23 Yeah, so within five days of having taken the third dose, the symptoms that I was experiencing after the second dose came right back. 9:33 Except this time over the course of three weeks, it worked its way from the bottom of my feet to my waist down. 9:41 So it didn't stop at my knees this time. 9:44 In addition to that, it was also much more consistent pain at a higher intensity. 9:51 So at this point, rather than the five, six, we were looking at anywhere between seven and nine. Speaker 1
9:57 Okay. 9:58 So I just want to kind of unpack that. 10:00 So basically from your waist down now, you are in like seven to nine. 10:06 That's like an unbearable pain stage. 10:10 And this is constant. 10:15 What type of pain was it? 10:18 What was the sensation that you were feeling? Speaker 2
10:22 It was like a burning pain. 10:24 It kind of felt like internally that the nerves within my body were vibrating. 10:31 Almost as if you had bugs crawling on the inside of you 24-7. Speaker 1
10:37 Did it feel like bugs crawling on you? Speaker 1
10:40 Okay. 10:41 So not only is it this intense pain, but you actually have this sensation like bugs are crawling throughout basically your body from the waist down. 10:52 And how long does this go on for? 10:54 It's still actually still going on to some degree. Speaker 2
10:58 Yes, it hasn't stopped. 11:00 It's only progressed. 11:02 It is now full body that I experienced these symptoms. 11:08 And the intensity continues at that level to this day. Speaker 4
11:19 Okay. 11:20 So how far up? Speaker 3
11:26 Today, I experienced the symptoms full body. Speaker 4
11:32 Okay. 11:32 And so you're in pain right now? 11:34 Yes. Speaker 1
11:37 So not only, like you shared with us earlier, you've got this nausea from your treatment, but you're also in extreme pain. 11:45 And this is your daily life, isn't it? Speaker 1
11:48 So every day you're in chronic pain. Speaker 2
11:50 Absolutely. Speaker 1
11:52 The only question is, what is the level going to be today? 11:56 Correct. 12:01 Sometimes it gets so bad that, like, 12:05 You're literally on the couch crying in pain all night. Speaker 1
12:12 Okay. 12:13 You also have what's called small fiber neuropathy. Speaker 2
12:18 Yes. 12:19 So I was diagnosed with small fiber neuropathy after attempting to find care in Canada. 12:29 Eventually I did have to go to the United States. 12:33 When I first presented with these symptoms to the urgent care, I was sent to the emergency department for concerns of potential Guillain-Barre syndrome. 12:46 And when I went to emerge, I packed my bags because at this point, it was... 12:57 quite clear to both my family and I that my symptoms were the result of the COVID vaccines because it happened not only once, but twice. 13:09 And so I was sure that I would be admitted because why wouldn't the medical community want to figure out what happens to me so that they could prevent it from happening to other people? 13:23 Little did I know at that time that it was already too late. 13:27 There were already tens, if not hundreds of thousands of people like me worldwide. Speaker 1
13:37 You were talking about getting diagnosed in the States. Speaker 1
13:42 And it's really interesting that somebody in Canada has to pay privately to go to the States to get diagnosed. 13:50 When was it? 13:52 What month and year did you end up going to the States? Speaker 2
13:54 It was October of 2024 that I went to Utah. Speaker 1
14:00 Okay, so you're injured in 2021. Speaker 1
14:03 And the Canadian medical system will not give you a proper diagnosis and you end up in 2024 going to the States. Speaker 2
14:13 Yes, correct. 14:14 My dad and I traveled up to 10 hours to see a total of 14:20 23 doctors in Canada to try to get my condition properly assessed, diagnosed, and to obtain treatments. 14:30 Unfortunately, the responses that we received in Canada ranged anywhere from being called stupid and incompetent and being told that vaccines don't do that and that I needed to stop wasting the time. 14:48 of the medical community. 14:50 And when my condition was finally acknowledged by someone in Canada, the response was that I should be thankful because other people reacted far worse than I did. 15:02 So either, 15:06 my condition was not acknowledged or my condition wasn't bad enough to be treated. Speaker 1
15:12 I just want to unpack this because I think we need to slow it down just so that it can sink in for people. 15:18 So you and your father, because you now have to rely on your parents. Speaker 1
15:23 You can't cook meals by yourself. 15:27 You cannot go to the store by yourself. 15:29 You cannot go to medical appointments by yourself. 15:31 You're no longer independent. Speaker 2
15:32 That's correct. Speaker 1
15:34 And 15:35 So relying on your parents, you go to 23 doctors. Speaker 1
15:41 Basically to get help and get diagnosis and tests in Canada. 15:47 You, as I'm, you know, from an earlier conversation. 15:52 Yeah. 15:52 So one, a neurologist instructed a nurse to quote, tell that girl that vaccines don't do that. Speaker 1
16:01 And to stop wasting their, meaning the medical system's time. 16:06 Correct. 16:07 On two other times that say things like you're incompetent and you're stupid. Speaker 1
16:16 So here you are experiencing what anyone would describe as debilitating symptoms. 16:25 And you're basically being abused. 16:27 I don't know what other term to use. 16:30 And these are just examples you're giving us. Speaker 2
16:33 Yes, those are just examples across the total of 23. 16:38 My dad who attended every one of those appointments with me and myself heard everything in between that. Speaker 4
16:46 You were called a drug addict by a neurologist. Speaker 1
16:53 How does that affect you when 16:58 you're suffering terribly and basically you're being ridiculed because they cannot acknowledge that you're vaccine injured. Speaker 2
17:05 I mean, my family doctor tried to make all the referrals possible and the majority of people 17:12 got back to her saying that she needed to refer me to psychiatry because that's all I was, was a psych case. 17:20 And after hearing that from 23 different people, eventually you start to believe it. 17:28 And so I thought that maybe they were right. 17:31 Maybe it was all in my head. 17:34 And that's when I ended up finding React 19 in the United States. 17:38 And I realized that 17:41 I wasn't alone, and this wasn't all in my head, and that other people were experiencing exactly what I was. 17:49 So I had the opportunity to participate in their pilot emotional support group, and through that was actually when I started to realize that my symptoms were consistent with small fiber neuropathy. 18:04 and with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. 18:07 And at that point, I started asking the Canadian specialists to test me and none of them would. Speaker 1
18:14 Yeah, so you joined this, React 19 is a group in the United States of COVID-19 vaccine injured persons. Speaker 1
18:23 And so it's this community where people can share what's happening. 18:27 They also look into research and so you can learn about things. 18:30 So you're basically learning, you're not alone. 18:34 And you're also learning, wait a second, other people that have similar things. 18:39 These are the diagnoses, but no Canadian specialist will test you. Speaker 1
18:46 So you have to pay to go to the United States. 18:49 And then they actually say, yes, you have this and you have this. Speaker 2
18:52 Exactly. 18:53 So not only was it confirmed that I did have the very conditions that I told Canadian doctors I knew I had with the small fiber neuropathy and the postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, they also confirmed that I had mitochondrial dysfunction, insulin resistance, and microclotting. Speaker 6
19:18 Julie, I'd like to hear a little bit more about CanRise. 19:20 I know it's a 19:21 You know, you guys set that up. 19:24 And in terms of the reach and how you guys are helping other people and maybe even kind of the vision of what you hope it can become. Speaker 2
19:32 Yeah. 19:32 So after I received those diagnoses from Utah and I came back home, I shared my story publicly for the first time. 19:40 And that's when Michelle Wharton from B.C. 19:43 connected with me as we went to the same medical clinic. 19:47 And so the two of us realized that there wasn't anything in Canada like there was React 19 that was doing all the same things that they were doing. 20:00 And so the two of us co-founded CanRise19 and we became part of the COVID Vaccine Injury Alliance. Speaker 6
20:08 So what types of things are 20:12 Is CanRise19 doing? 20:14 We've heard from Michelle a little bit, but I don't think you can tell you. 20:17 It's a great story. 20:18 I don't think you can tell enough of it because not everyone understands what it does or what it could do or what you hope it could do. Speaker 2
20:25 Yeah, absolutely. 20:27 So right now we're able to offer emotional and physical supports to Canadians. Speaker 3
20:32 I love that. Speaker 2
20:34 who are experiencing COVID vaccine injury, as well as those who are bereaved. 20:40 So we do that through offering emotional support groups that we meet on a weekly basis. 20:46 so that individuals can come together and connect with those who are experiencing what they are and who understand what they are going through. 20:54 I know Michelle touched on the physical portion with our provider list, so I won't go into too much detail about that. 21:02 But the one pillar that is remaining that REACT-19 has been able to 21:08 that we have not been able to yet is the financial support. 21:12 Because as you've heard from lots of us, we have spent thousands upon thousands upon hundreds of thousands of dollars on medical care. 21:22 And so we are working really hard to achieve charitable status. 21:27 Right now we are a registered not-for-profit, but we're hoping to achieve charitable status so that we can work on getting donations so that we can create a medical care fund for Canadians who have out-of-pocket medical and mental health expenses. Speaker 6
21:43 I just want to say not only am I grateful for you coming today, but through all the pain and what you're experiencing today, 21:52 You guys continue to figure out other ways how you can help the rest of the community. 21:57 It's pretty impressive. Speaker 2
21:58 Yeah, absolutely. 21:59 Thank you. 21:59 We appreciate that. 22:01 And unfortunately, it is the injured that are left to help the injured because there really isn't other support out there for us. Speaker 4
22:13 Well, thank you very much for attending today. 22:16 Yeah, appreciate it. Speaker 1
22:23 I had a couple of more questions. 22:25 And it's just that I know you're a vibrant part of this community. 22:29 Yes. 22:31 Generally speaking, how are the members of CanRise? 22:37 Because don't you guys, like I should, members are the wrong term because I know there's a difference between how many people participate in discussions. 22:46 But like what's the feeling out there towards the medical system and how they've been treated? Speaker 2
22:53 Honestly, it's that we've all been abandoned. 22:57 We are five years. 23:01 And like I said, I'm lucky to have a diagnosis and a treatment plan. 23:04 But we hear time and time again from our members that they don't have a diagnosis. 23:13 They don't have a treatment plan. 23:15 And unfortunately, what's being presented as a treatment plan and an option to them is medical assistance in dying or suicide. Speaker 1
23:29 And that was going to be my next question because we had, I think it was Senator Johnson or somebody yesterday had mentioned that in discussions with React 19, that they're reporting that more and more of their members just can't take it anymore. 23:46 And they don't have, you know, legalized suicide here, but so people are just taking their own lives. 23:55 I know that you have a personal concern that, 23:58 can rise 19 members. 24:00 Some of them just aren't going to be able to take it anymore and that they're going to kill themselves. 24:04 Can you talk about that for a moment? 24:05 Because this Speaker 2
24:07 Yeah, so through CanRise19, we have an advocacy program. 24:12 And so individuals can reach out for support and to be connected to resources. 24:19 But we're finding that there's very limited, if any, resources in Canada. 24:28 And so unfortunately, when people are reaching out to us, and they're reaching out to 24:35 organizations in Canada who are noting the same trends within Silent Survivors or Can't Connect 19. 24:43 We're having people call us and we at CanRise19 are their last hope. 24:48 They're calling us saying, if I'm not better and I don't have a treatment option in a month, then I'm going to apply for MAID or I'm going to complete suicide. Speaker 4
25:09 I don't think anyone in this room knows what to do with that. Speaker 2
25:13 No, and that's where we're stuck because we can provide all the emotional support groups in the world, but if 25:25 the medical community in Canada is not able to acknowledge us and is not able to treat us, we are going to continue to see this trend in Canada. 25:38 And we are going to continue to lose the COVID vaccine injured in Canada. 25:45 And that is honestly the hardest part in all of this. Speaker 6
25:50 Thank you so much. Speaker 5
25:57 Thank you for your testimony today. 26:00 And you've had a very unique journey of trying to find a diagnosis and treatment. 26:07 From your experience in this matter, can you shed some insight as to why our medical profession is so hesitant, even post 26:26 covid pandemic to to provide any sort of assistance is it because they don't know uh they're afraid um you know like i i'm at a loss to you know if they take this oath to care for people and they're abandoning them um is there something you know like you've experienced it you've experienced it yeah you know like multiple dozen times Speaker 2
26:50 Yes, and many of our members have as well. 26:53 And in preparation for today, I spoke to many of those individuals because I'm not just here speaking for myself. 27:01 I'm speaking for thousands of Canadians who are too sick to travel here today. 27:08 I'm speaking for thousands of Canadians that are too scared to come forward and to share their stories. 27:15 And to that note, that's where I feel the barrier is within the medical system is that fear. 27:23 Because we've learned from many of our members who have had these closed door conversations with their doctors that, yes, you're vaccine injured, but I can't put that on record because my license is on the line. 27:37 And so they're not able to document this and they're not able to treat us. 27:43 And so in order to get treatment, we're having to say that it could be long COVID. 27:53 The doctors are having to say that it could be long COVID, even though we all know that it's COVID vaccine injury. Speaker 6
28:07 Julia, I say once again, thank you so much for not only being here and sharing your story, but also the work you do to help others as well. 28:15 Thank you. Speaker 2
28:15 Yeah, thank you. 28:16 And I would like to acknowledge those individuals that we are trying to help, because even with all the barriers that we face in Canada, in the words of an individual that has become a very, very good friend of mine in all of this, 28:32 you are worth fighting for. 28:34 And if the medical community isn't there to fight for the injured, then we are. 28:40 So if you're out there and you're struggling like we are, please, please take that time to reach out to us at CanRise19 at info at CanRise19.com and we will be the people to help and support you and to fight for you. Speaker 6
28:57 Thanks, Julie. 28:58 Thank you.