Written by Sandy Kanervisto; mother to Christopher Kanervisto.
“He never treated anyone differently. Everyone was a friend.”
“He taught me that the sky’s the limit, rules are meant to be broken, and to be open minded.”
“Sarcastic and he could insult you without you even knowing you had been insulted but it was all in fun.”
“He enjoyed life and he had fun, he loved being around people but was just as comfortable being by himself.”
This is what Christopher’s friends said when I asked them to describe him.
I saw him as my little boy, the one who loved to build, draw, read.. playing and listening to music, skiing, golfing and with a huge thirst for knowledge. He could debate any subject: politics, religion, classic rock, environmental issues, or architecture… he loved it all.
He studied environmental law at Westminster College for one year but decided he didn’t want to be a lawyer. He said there were too many rules; he wanted to use his creativity and pursue a degree in his first love, architecture. So he transferred to Utah State University in August 2009. On October 15, 2009 he flew to Oregon with his dad to look at schools. He wanted to start with a civil engineering degree and then pursue a degree in architecture with an emphasis in sustainable architecture. They returned home on October 18th.
Christopher at Westminster, 2009
Christopher had always been healthy; if he got a bug it was usually gone within a day or two. He was very active in sports. His doctor visits were mainly well check ups and no issues had ever come up. He had his childhood vaccines. They were delayed but he did receive them, but he never had a flu vaccine.
We had discussed the regular flu vaccine and 2009 H1N1 vaccine. He wanted my opinion, I told him to not worry about the regular flu vaccine since he had never had a problem with cold or flu bugs. We were both unsure about the H1N1 vaccine. He was right in the age group that was most susceptible: college student, campus living and around a lot of people. I left it up to him.
On October 19th he called to say he had decided to get the vaccine and went to the local health department. He received the H1N1 Flumist vaccine. On November 4th he sent a message to his girlfriend that he felt like crap but the next day he sent another message that he felt a lot better and just had a little sore throat. He commented one time to me that he felt tired but he thought it was from staying up late and studying (or playing games or his guitar).
On November 19th, Christopher spent the evening with his friends. He talked to his dad around 10 p.m. about their plans to ski over Thanksgiving weekend. He talked to his girlfriend on Skype until about 3 a.m. One friend tried to convince him to stay up and watch a movie but he said he was tired and was going to bed.
November 20th, Christopher was supposed to pick his girlfriend up at the Frontrunner station and when he didn’t show up and she couldn’t reach him she called one of his friends who called me. I called his roommate who found him. He had passed away in his sleep.
That was the day my world stopped.
We spoke with the medical examiner about his medical history several times over the next two months looking for a cause. The only thing that was out of the ordinary was the vaccine. She called us on February 10th to say she thought the cause of death would be “unknown” but they were going to do one more test on his heart. (I remember the date. Christopher’s birthday is February 11th).
We finally received the autopsy results in mid-February 2010. Cause of death: Viral Myocarditis. The medical examiner said it was the “flu” he had in October. I reminded her he had not had the flu; it was the vaccine he had in October. I asked her to check for something in the vaccine. She said it had been too long and they would be unable to isolate it down that far.
The thing that sticks in my mind is when I was told by someone from The United States Health Resources and Services Administration that the vaccine cannot cause the flu but may cause flu-like symptoms while the immune system is reacting to the vaccine. Flu-like symptoms are a common symptom of Myocarditis.
I hear about so many young healthy people passing away from unknown causes and I wonder how many of these “unknowns” are actually Myocarditis. I also hear about young healthy people collapsing from an undetected heart condition. Is this an undetected condition of Myocarditis? So many questions and not enough answers. How many of these reactions are caused by an adverse reaction to a vaccine? So much information is withheld from a parent… they never make the connection.
In Christopher’s case I believe it was the vaccine that triggered the Myocarditis, but I also believe there are many medical issues that can be triggered by an adverse reaction to a vaccine.
I wouldn’t wish this on anyone, he was my little boy.
VaxTruth would like to thank Christopher’s parents for allowing us to share his story. For more information on death associated with the flu vaccine, please see the articles below.
Death by Flu Shot. 7 Year-Old Receives Flu Shot; Dies 4 Days Later
My heart goes out to Christopher’s family and friends. I’m sixty-seven, and every year I see my personal care physician for a wellness check. Like Chtistopher, and many others, I seldom get sick with colds or the flu. And, every year for as long as I can remember, my doctor recommends a mammogram, colonostomy and a flu shot. Every year I say no, he says, ‘oh, but..’, at which point I become adement in my refusal. How many sixty-seven year old people do you know that take one 1 mg tablet daily for slight anxiety? I am so sorry that Chtistopher’s death, at such a young age, was most likely, preventable. I firmly believe that the giant pharmaceutical companies are playing a vital, and unconsionably evil, role in the transformation of America, and a number of other countries, under the direction of the elite deviants who are he’ll bent on effecting dominance in their ‘New World Order’ of tomorrow. Sick, selfish and arrogant bastards!
Thank you Sharon, That’s what surprised me about Christopher debating about the H1N1 vaccine, he wasn’t one to take medications for every little ailment or vaccines. I remember I bought him a bottle of I believe Advil when he went to college, when he moved home it was unopened. I had several people tell me I should get on medications after his death, I chose not to. I can’t even bring myself to go to a doctor for the simple fact when I asked for help in reporting to VAERS and reading the autopsy I was told they could not help. The health department filed the VAERS report but they left out a majority of the information I gave them and I still haven’t read the autopsy, I skimmed through it enough to file the claim with CICP but now it just sits in the drawer.
I am so sorry. Thank you for speaking out. I tell my flu shot story to prevent anyone else from suffering like I did.
Thank you Lisa, I also speak out but I find people seem to tune out anything when it comes to vaccines.
I believe you when you say you think the vaccine caused it. Nobody knows “children” like their parents or has a “sixth sense” about what might have been implicated. I can’t even imagine your pain. Thanks for sharing your story.
Maureen that is so true, I knew what was normal for Christopher and knowing him, if he had been aware of the side effects he would have been questioning and arguing about the safety and efficacy. It seems that vaccine clinics are like a production line, who would have time to actually read and process all the fine print in the insert. No they herd you in like cattle, hand you a bunch of paperwork to read and sign, give you a vaccine,you’re done and they have another notch on their their vaccinated success report. I have asked parents if they have ever actually read a vaccine package insert before their child received the vaccine, I have yet to find someone that has. It’s scary, I don’t want anyone to experience this, he was our only child, he can’t be replaced.
I am deeply sorry for your loss. I wish people believe more regular people than authorities, and learn from them. There is so much information out there about vaccination, and most of them still blind.
Thank you Olga. I also wish people would put more weight into life experience and not authorities.
Thank you everyone for your support, I cannot begin to express what it means to us.
I feel as if so many get so caught up in life we rely on the media to tell us the truth. Everyday we see ads for a medication that will control diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, ed, you name it the pharmas have it covered. Then you have the fast talking person comes on and tell you al the side effects and if you listen you realize yah, you may feel better but you may die. If you wait long enough soon there will be an ad for a class action lawsuit because these same medications are causing debilitating injuries or death. These are medications that have gone through years of clinical studies. But what do you hear for a vaccine ad…. nothing. Have you ever heard VAERS mentioned in an ad? Have you ever heard of any adverse reactions? No. I think too many parents assume that because the ad does not talk about it there must not be any.
Did you know under a pandemic declaration, CICP, as in the 2009 H1N1 vaccine they can take a vaccine, medication or medical device, alter it, base the safety and efficacy on it’s previous form and release it to the public but if you are injured there is no legal recourse. Ironically they used the same “virus” in all flu vaccines since 2009 but anything after the 2009-2010 flu season falls under VICP and a completely different set of rules, as in under VICP you may have a chance, under CICP don’t bother, you were nothing more than a uniformed clinical study. Christopher deserves more than that.
Dear Sandy! Thank you writing out your pain about Christopher’s unnecessary death. I was shocked by learning that there probably was this vaccine involved. How little we really know about all possible effects in these vaccines. As you put it right: who really read the “small print” in product advisories? It is all about trust. We trust the health officials assuring that these vaccines are ok for all of us. May God give you strength in warning the rest of us to stay alert as encountering the possible side effects in medications. – Jouni
Kiitos Jouni!
Your story breaks my heart. My deepest sympathy for your loss. We have a 24 yr old son, also named Christopher, and if anything happened to him I believe my world would stop also. We made a conscious choice 24 years ago to give him NO vaccines. My husband is a doctor of chiropractic, and had researched vaccines for years when I married him. I was pro-vaccine at the time, like most American’s. That had been my background. Once my husband asked me to read a few books and educate myself on the “other side of the story” , we never looked back… Our son is now also a doctor of chiropractic…. a completely unvaccinated one. May God give you comfort, and heal your broken heart.
Please contact Kaylynne Matten’s parents. I provided quite a few pubmed references showing myocarditis after Flu vaccination. Their attorney may have them at this time. best, Liora
I am so sorry for your loss, Sandy. Your son sounds like a very interesting you man.
I too have a son. He is 19 yrs old, his name is Dustin. He was vaccine injured since the 1st Hepitis B vaccine he recieved in the hospital right when he was born.I asked for answers to why my son was throwing up all time. I mean projectile vomiting soon after we left the hospital. When he seemed to be perfectly fine before we left. A nurse told me, the only thing different they did for him before my son and I left the hospital was give him a vaccine, Hepitis B shot. I was never told I had a choice in the matter or told of the reactions from the unnecessary ingredients they have in these vaccines. I trusted in the medical professionals with my son’s life.
I noticed that everytime my son recieved a vaccine, he regressed in his healthy immune system. And everytime I asked for answers I got pushed away too.
Up until my son Dustin’s 15-18 month old vaccines. Dustin met his milestones. But when he recieved his MMR at 15 months. My Dustin stopped doing all the things he normally did. An hour after his vaccines. His life had changed, my life changed. He regressed, with his health. And he regressed into Autism.
Today, Dustin has multiple allergries to foods, enviromental, and chemical. He has servere asthma, stomach issues, delayed speech, seizure disorder just to name a few things. Still I battle with the medical professionals, just for even help. And I feel alone. Even though there are others who also are dealing with the same issues. And the cause, was vaccines.
Please know, I am thinking of you.
Susan~
Thank you for sharing you tragic experiences and I am sorry for your loss.
After receiving a mandatory flu shot in 2012, I developed flu like symptoms over the next couple of days before being rushed to the hospital for heart attack symptoms. After a week in the hospital I was diagnosed for viral myo/pericarditis and I was told they couldn’t find the cause nor would they be able to find the cause. I spent the next year and a lot of money seeking many different medical opinions, while the pain in my chest never completely went away. I have been put on mediations that not only did not help my pain but brought on new symptoms such as depression and internal bleeding. I have since been hospitalized one more time for a week and have been rushed to the hospital or urgent care many times for more heart attack symptoms. I currently still have ongoing chest pain and seem to be much more susceptible to illnesses such as the common cold or flu. When I do get sick, I get much more sick than I used to and it takes me much longer to recover, not to mention the constant fear of what myocarditis is capable of. I have always suspected the flu vaccine to be the initial cause of my chronic illness, but was of course told otherwise by doctors. I have two young children of my own and my wife and I will seriously re-evaluate any vaccines for our little ones from this point on.
Greg, Thank you. I ran across the Myo/Percarditis and flu vaccine link several times in VAERS while looking for answers. Unfortunately in VAERS several of the records included the smallpox vaccine routinely given to the military. Pericarditis is listed on the package inserts for the flu vaccine as a post marketing event but they say they cannot say that the vaccine is the cause. There are several people that I have heard of that developed Myo or Pericarditis after receiving different vaccines so I do believe there is a strong connection but until the pharams and the government get out of business together we will never know the truth. Look how long it has taken for someone to come forward with information with the link to autism and they are still trying to cover it up.
You may want to visit the Myocarditis Foundation website, I have learned a lot from them also. The founder, Candace Moose is a Myocarditis survivor after receiving a heart transplant. The website is myocarditisfoundation.org. There is also a FB page called Viral Myocarditis that has also been a hugs help. I have met some wonderful people at both sites. Between this site and the other two I am still able to keep what little sanity I have left, until I ran across them about two years ago I was completely lost.
So handsome and full of life…I can’t even imagine. I’m sorry! My heart goes out to you and your family.
I am so sorry for your loss. I too have an only son named Christopher he is 26 and well, I am lucky. He has learned from me to get minimal vaccines and was able to get out of the last 2 required before he graduated from college using a religious exemption. I on the other hand am vaccine injured from a Typhoid vaccine that was required for nursing school in 1982. My injury was not dramatic but a slow insidious auto immune degradation. It started with Hashiomoto’s thyroiditis and since have had a number of auto immune illnesses. What drew me to your story is three years ago (almost to the day) I developed severe chest pain and was diagnosed with PERIcarditis. I can’t imagine with the pain the I had that your Christopher didn’t have any chest pain that would have sent him to the hospital and maybe saved his life! At first they thought my pericarditis was viral but I didn’t recall any viral illness prior to my symptoms. Due to the fact they could not correlate a viral illness they decided it must be autoimmune. My condition became chronic and I had a great deal of difficulty weaning off of prednisone(it took 11 months). I am lucky that I have a great homeopath that assisted me through the process with lots of IV vitamin C and other alternatives that saved my life. Had I left it up to my medical doctors I would probably be dead. Don’t get me wrong they saved my life but after that point they wanted to remove my pericardium and cut holes in my chest, then wanted to give me drugs to shut down my immune response (those usually cause cancer).
Kathryn, He didn’t have any chest pains and that is quite common with Myocarditis. two weeks after receiving the vaccine he had said he felt like crap and hoped he wasn’t doing down with the flu. The next day he felt fine except a little sore throat. He had never been one to run to the doctor for every little sniffle so when he felt fine the next day I am sure he thought nothing more about it.
I was told by a representative from HRSA that the vaccine cannot cause the flu but may cause flu-like symptoms as the immune system is reacting to the vaccine, flu-like symptoms are a very common symptom of Myocarditis. I asked her if the vaccine cannot cause the flu what is it causing, Myo? She wouldn’t answer.
On Oct 15, 2009, my son received the Flumist vaccine. He was 5. Two days later, he woke up a different kid. He had a total personality change and was running 103 degree fever. Our pediatrician told me he must have gotten the flu from the vaccination and not to worry. He did not get better. He got worse. He began displaying signs of serious psychiatric illness. My perfectly healthy son. What we suspect now is he developed encephalitis from the vaccine. No one will say that. I know it. Five years later, I can say my son is nearly back to himself. It’s been a long and hellish road that I wouldn’t wish on anyone. If any of the initial doctors we consulted with would have accepted the flumist did this to our son, they would have realized he had post infectious encephalitis from the vaccine and we/he would not have had to suffer the consequences. I am so very sorry for your loss. As a mother, I am outraged this happens to our children and no one will admit it’s the vaccine.
Thank you. I can completely see how encephalitis could have been caused by the Flumist vaccine. As with myocarditis, encephalitis is an autoimmune reaction where the immune system attacks the body and causes inflammation whether it is in the brain, the heart or an other part of pour body. Our immune systems all react different to what they encounter but people look at vaccines that our immune systems will react exactly what the pharmas say they should. :/
Dear Sandy . . . I am so, so sorry for your heartbreaking loss. Thank you for sharing your story. Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. I will share Christopher’s story with others via Vaccine Choice Prayer Community at http://www.vaccinechoiceprayercommunity.org and also via the group’s FB page and ask for their prayers as well. May God bless you and bring you comfort and peace. . . . Jeanette
So very sorry for your loss I do know how u feel lost my first grsndbaby at six month old.. I hope you lean on the Lord for comfort and strength.. ever since I heard it had mercury in it I stopped getting them I just trust in the Great Healer.
I am so incredibly sorry about your tragic loss. Thank you for sharing your story. This dialogue must keep going and we need to continue to weigh the risk vs. rewards of vaccines. Your son suffered the most extreme “risk” — my sincere condolences to you and your family. Your story may ultimately help save lives.