Witness Testimony

Judy Soroka, a retired nurse with a chronic back injury dating to 1992, testified that prior to the COVID-19 lockdowns she maintained mobility and pain control through regular exercise, gym attendance, swimming, gardening, and other physical activities. She also underwent prolotherapy treatments that previously restored function. When lockdowns restricted access to gyms, pools, and physiotherapy, she reported a decline in her physical condition. Follow-up imaging revealed worsening spinal curvature and twisting impinging on her spinal cord, with surgery deemed too risky. She testified that further deterioration could result in paralysis and that she now lives with daily chronic pain and reduced mobility.
Ms. Soroka stated that her second prolotherapy treatment in 2021 was less effective, partly because she was unable to complete recommended physiotherapy exercises during lockdown restrictions. She described giving up activities such as gardening, long-distance walking, and airport volunteer work, and noted she has lost two inches in height. She declined strong pain medications due to concerns about functionality and instead manages persistent pain without narcotics.
She also testified about social impacts related to vaccine passport policies and her decision not to receive vaccination. She reported loss of long-term friendships and exclusion from social gatherings, including a nursing reunion. She described being accused of contributing to her mother’s COVID-19 infection prior to her mother’s death in hospital in 2021, which she found deeply hurtful. Ms. Soroka characterized the period as marked by social division, stigma, and personal loss.