A Fayetteville man is returning home after becoming
sick while on military assignment in Kuwait.
Johnny Andrews, Jr., 20, is assigned to the Third
Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Georgia. Andrews became sick and
lost consciousness hours after arriving in Kuwait last month. He was
transported to a hospital in Germany. Doctors believe his near-death
experience may have been caused by a reaction to a smallpox vaccine.
Kathy Andrews said her son always dreamed of
serving his country. She had faith her son would come home safely
but she never dreamed he would come home sick.
“I got a call from the XO telling me to get
prepared for a call from a doctor,” Kathy said. “My son was in
critical condition, that he was on life support and that he was on a
ventilator.”
Andrews collapsed hours after arriving on Kuwaiti
soil. Doctors believe he may have suffered a severe reaction to the
smallpox vaccine.
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Smallpox vaccine may
have caused illness
A Fayetteville man is returning home after becoming sick
while on military assignment in Kuwait.
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“He had a severe headache and a high fever,” Kathy
said. “He was incoherent and they had to rush him to the Kuwait City
hospital.”
Andrews was unconscious for the next 72 hours.
“I was told he probably should not have taken that
shot,” Kathy said.
Many soldiers have concerns about the smallpox
vaccine so the Army's made available a brochure and on the inside is
information about the vaccine and some of the reactions associated
with it.
According to the Army, some experience reactions
from the vaccines. Some of the reactions are lethal. However, the
Army has yet to confirm Johnny’s illness is related to his
vaccination.
“They ruled out meningitis and encephalitis, but of
course, they're not just going to come out and say exactly what it
is,” Kathy said.
Johnny is recovering and is expected to return home
this week. His grandmother, Clara Horne, is counting the days.
“I feel happy and I’m glad he’s doing much better
and he’s coming back home,” Horne said.
The best news of all is that Johnny’s appetite has
returned.
“Last night I talked with him and he said he’d be
back Thursday,” Horne said. “I said okay, we’ll have some fried
chicken.”
