Witnesses
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Allison Inquiry | Robert Denesiuk | Day 4 September 11th, 2026
A 56-year-old British Columbia man describes his feet giving out about two weeks after his Pfizer vaccination, followed by paralysis overnight and a diagnosis of Guillain-Barré syndrome. He describes six and a half months in three hospitals, learning to stand and walk again, and a second dose he says was given without warning.
Robert Denesiuk, 56, of the Comox Valley, British Columbia, worked part time in janitorial work at a community clubhouse for about 18 to 24 hours a week. He received a Pfizer vaccination and, about two weeks later, says his feet began to give out with no explanation while he was at work, he fell, and two people had to hold him up to get him to the car. He says he spent the night in a recliner, woke paralyzed and could move his right leg only three inches and his left six, and was taken by ambulance to Comox Valley Regional Hospital. He says an emergency doctor phoned a neurologist in Victoria who diagnosed Guillain-Barré syndrome, and he was transferred by ambulance to Victoria. Denesiuk describes about six and a half months in three hospitals, relearning to stand, moving from a wheelchair to a walker in Nanaimo, and dropping from 190 to 130 pounds while friends, family and pastors visited because many expected him to die. He credits a personal trainer named Paula for not giving up on him and describes his Christian faith. He now walks with or without a walker, still falls at times, has care aides for dressing and medication, and works a couple of hours a week, including ringing a Salvation Army kettle from his walker. He says a second dose was given to him in hospital without explaining the risks. He says he wants compensation for the damages. MPs thank him for travelling from Comox.
Robert Denesiuk, 56, of the Comox Valley, British Columbia, worked part time in janitorial work at a community clubhouse for about 18 to 24 hours a week. He received a Pfizer vaccination and, about two weeks later, says his feet began to give out with no explanation while he was at work, he fell, and two people had to hold him up to get him to the car. He says he spent the night in a recliner, woke paralyzed and could move his right leg only three inches and his left six, and was taken by ambulance to Comox Valley Regional Hospital. He says an emergency doctor phoned a neurologist in Victoria who diagnosed Guillain-Barré syndrome, and he was transferred by ambulance to Victoria. Denesiuk describes about six and a half months in three hospitals, relearning to stand, moving from a wheelchair to a walker in Nanaimo, and dropping from 190 to 130 pounds while friends, family and pastors visited because many expected him to die. He credits a personal trainer named Paula for not giving up on him and describes his Christian faith. He now walks with or without a walker, still falls at times, has care aides for dressing and medication, and works a couple of hours a week, including ringing a Salvation Army kettle from his walker. He says a second dose was given to him in hospital without explaining the risks. He says he wants compensation for the damages. MPs thank him for travelling from Comox.
