This episode features Adyn, just 17 in 2021, who went from a vibrant, active teen to facing terrifying symptoms, skyrocketing platelet counts, a diagnosis of leukemia, as well as months of fear and seclusion after a single Pfizer dose.
His story exposes how the fear-inducing propaganda of the Covid-19 response left a young teenager feeling in terror of catching Covid, along with fears around his newly diagnosed Essential Thrombocytemia with its potential blood clots and uncontrolled bleeding.
Adyn was a young, healthy active student at Boys High in Christchurch, who prioritized friends, football and fitness over everything.
“I was quite healthy. I always picked spending time with friends and family over anything else. I just wanted to be out and about.”
He received early access to the vaccine as his stepdad was high-risk. The process felt surreal—like a military operation with MPs present and a strange sense of ceremony.
“It was like a military base. I felt famous almost. I felt like I was graduating high school.”
What began as a routine jab for Adyn in early 2021 quickly spiraled into a health crisis that isolated him from friends, family and normal teenage life. Symptoms hit fast. Within 40 hours: blurry vision, violently shaking hands turning purple, brain fog so severe he couldn’t focus or even recall his classroom. His skin flared—eczema returning worse than ever, extremities feeling icy while his core burned.
“My hands were shaking a lot. I basically just kept shaking, like very violently. I thought I was going to rip the page out of the book. Then my hands went purple.”
A quick visit to the doctor, 45 hours after his vaccination, spotted unequal pupils, and a clot was suspected. Blood tests 13 days post-vaccination revealed platelets at 967,000—double the healthy max of 450,000. Counts kept climbing past 1,000,000.
“Normally someone would have about 150 to 300 of these, and the maximum is 450, and mine was far above that.”
Platelets, produced in bone marrow alongside red and white cells, clump to seal damaged vessels, stopping bleeding and aiding healing. But extremes bring opposite dangers: Adyn was given terrifying warnings that levels near 1,500,000 risked catastrophic bleeding.
Diagnosed initially with leukemia by a hematologist, he was devastated. “I thought I had five years to live,” he recalls. Further tests clarified it as essential thrombocythemia (ET), a blood disorder where bone marrow overproduces platelets. Though rare in youth, the timing—the devastating symptoms starting immediately after vaccination—eventually convincing him, his family and GP of a link.
“It happened directly afterwards.”
Cognitive issues also continued to worsen: slurred speech like a stroke, drooling and anxiety. Deemed “high-risk for COVID” because of his vaccine-induced condition, Adyn isolated himself, building metaphorical “walls” and a “ship” to cast himself away from friends and family. He lived in fear, confining himself to his room for six months post-lockdown.
“I told all my friends that I had to be away from them. I couldn’t go near them. My family as well. I just thought if I went outside, I’d catch Covid. I thought it was kind of, like, looming through the air. It was quite scary because I thought with my condition, if I was to get Covid that would be the end of it.”
Treatment was grueling. Chemo pills caused muscle loss and weight drop to 66kg, making him fear that would kill him faster than ET. Switching to expensive interferon (Pegasys) injections brought platelet counts down to 500-600, and boosted his energy and immunity. He’s now in remission, monitored annually. Adyn explains that he’s likely caught COVID five or six times but recovered easily, finally realising his fears were amplified by over “dramatised” messaging.
Once I realised that a lot of my friends were safe, even though they were out and about. And that the people who caught it got over it pretty fast. That helped ease my nerves a bit.
A 2022 systematic review of studies of over 125,000 children and adolescents reported high prevalence of COVID-19-related fear, as well as mental health deterioration, such as depressive and anxious symptoms due to COVID‐19 pandemic control measures. Those with chronic physical conditions were more likely to experience negative mental health outcomes.
Adyn explains how applying for ACC (Accident Compensation Corporation) was a battle as his blood specialists denied vaccine links. However, a supportive GP advocated for him, highlighting the 13-day platelet spike, instant neurological conditions and thrombocytosis, leading to an ACC medical claim acceptance. They reimbursed his costs, including interferon, but denied a lump sum, as his hematologist wouldn’t confirm causation.
“It didn’t feel like they were human, it kind of felt like they were just talking off of what they’ve been told to say. And they weren’t open to any different opinions at all.”
According to a proactive release from ACC of Covid-19 vaccine related treatment injury claims, total payments on 1,779 accepted claims currrently amount to $16,877,835 —including 6 claims which relate to a fatal injury.
Adyn’s schooling suffered; after difficulties studying from home, finally entering class proved challenging. He dropped out in Year 13 to pivot to training for fitness coaching.
Today, in his early 20’s, Adyn’s now a personal trainer, embracing life even though he explains his ET carries a 1% risk of mutating to aggressive leukemia.
Support from family and his ex-partner was crucial:
“It wasn’t really exactly the things they said to me. It wasn’t me hearing a specific thing, but it was just knowing that those people are always looking out for you. And there’s always someone who cares about you.”
This experience flipped his worldview. From feeling invincible to experiencing rock bottom, he now appreciates health and relationships. Declining further vaccines, he urges self-care without taking well-being for granted. For those in similar “ships,” his message: Keep your head up—land awaits.
“Just enjoy life as much as you can..”
Watch Adyn’s full 20-minute episode now on YouTube or Spotify
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