Woman Disabled by Flu Shot Gets Celeb Help

Desiree Jennings got a flu shot a few weeks ago. A healthy 25-year-old woman in training to become a Washington Redskins cheerleader, just simply trying to keep safe ahead of a vicious flu season. She didn't expect to get sick. But she did. Days later becoming so ill, she is now unable to walk forward or speak above a whisper.

Desiree cannot walk more than five feet forward, but can walk backwards with ease. Since her ordeal was featured on newsmagazine Inside Edition, she has received an outpouring of support. "It's been unreal," Jennings told Washington DC's FOX 5. "I didn't think anyone would even care about my story. People are sitting there crying and I can't understand why."

Jennings, a former AOL employee got a severe reaction and now suffers from a rare neurological disorder called Dystonia as a result of the shot. It took 60 doctors before she was finally able to confirm the flu shot did indeed trigger her illness. Her story has captivated and stunned the world, especially as we struggle with the growing risk of swine flu. Now, Generation Rescue, an organization founded by Jim Carrey and girlfriend, actress Jenny McCarthy, have stepped up to offer support to Jennings after hearing her story.

McCarthy founded Generation Rescue with Carrey to educate people about autism (her son, Evan is autistic). The organization is now raising awareness over the safety of vaccines including flu shots. Stan Kurtz, Generation Rescue's president, was so touched by Desiree's story that the organization plans to fly her to Los Angeles for treatment.

"Well, unfortunately we happen to be very good at handling vaccine injury. We've got a lot of doctors that have experience in doing that, so our doctors and our resources are completely available to her," said Kurtz.

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Dystonia is a neurological movement disorder where sustained muscle contractions cause body jerks, and abnormal or repetitive movements. The disorder may be inherited or caused by other factors such as birth-related or other physical trauma, infection, poisoning, or reaction to drugs.

Despite Jennings' "one in a million" reaction, The Centers for Disease Control said people should still get flu shots. With President Obama declaring swine flu a national epidemic, this will definitely give many pause. After declaring the H1N1 virus a pandemic, the move authorizes federal officials to waive some requirements in dealing with the virus, such as letting hospitals set up separate facilities to keep patients with the virus from infecting others.

Check out the segment from Inside Edition: