TEXARKANA, Texas -- Ashanti Harvey's heart, soul and mind are in gospel music, to which her Facebook and Instagram pages can testify.
The 24-year-old, who has a bachelor's degree in general studies from Southern Arkansas University, is working on a master's in business management. The goal? To boost her recording career and build a music studio for children in Texarkana.
Ashanti's life seemed to be in tune. Then came the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.
"She began to experience weakness in her arms after the first vaccine (Sept. 3, 2021) and was assured medically that was a normal side affect," said her mother, Jessie Harvey. "She received her second vaccine (Sept. 27) and began to experience weakness in her arms and legs."
Ashanti's declining health sent the family scrambling.
"Doctor after doctor after doctor, test after test after test, and no real answers," Jessie said. "A very healthy young lady before September 2021 was told she had a lesion on the brain, fluid around the heart, then myopathy."
In just four months, Ashanti's symptoms worsened to the point that she needed assistance with everyday living, including grooming and walking. Her breathing was so affected that she could no longer sing, work or complete her graduate studies.
Jessie said attentive doctors in Texarkana referred Ashanti to the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. The first visit was April 11, and Ashanti was hospitalized for two weeks.
"In her stay there, a diagnosis has been found -- MuSK myasthenia gravis," Jessie said.
Muscle-specific kinase myasthenia gravis is a severe autoimmune disease characterized by overall neuromuscular weakness, according to the National Institutes of Health. It is especially known to wreak havoc on the muscles that control breathing.
"Doctors say (it's) a non-curable rare disease that causes a miscommunication between the muscle membrane and the nerves," Jessie said. "In a crisis situation, all muscle functions are in an attempt to shut down."
Ashanti's last extended stay was June 7-18. However, weekly trips to UT Southwestern are now a part of life for the Harveys.
"We travel there for physical therapy, rehab, occupational therapy."
The visits also include therapeutic plasma exchange to filter disease-causing antibodies from Ashanti's blood.
Jessie said UT doctors "won't say yes or no" that the Pfizer vaccine caused Ashanti's illness, although a heart specialist has been more forthcoming.
"He said yes and that she shouldn't take another vaccine. I have it in writing."
A peer-reviewed research paper published June 10, 2021, on Cureus reports on a 77-year-old white male whose myasthenia gravis was being managed by steroidal and other treatments. However, his symptoms flared up after he received both doses of a COVID vaccine.
"The MG crisis was attributed to the second dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine," the paper states.
"Given the history of the COVID-19 vaccine coinciding with the onset of his dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), it is most likely that our patient's exacerbation was attributed to the vaccination."
However, the researchers encouraged a measured approach regarding the vaccine, especially for myasthenia gravis patients.
"This rare yet severe presentation that required intubation and mechanical ventilation in our patient raises the question of whether monitoring in a hospital setting is necessary for this subset of patients who get vaccinated," the researchers wrote. "The usual post-vaccination observation time that lasts 15-30 minutes does not fully capture the adverse effects that may appear one or two weeks after the injection. In patients like this, the possibility of an MG flare and resultant respiratory muscle depression are life-threatening but avoidable if proper parameters are put in place for observation within the first and second weeks of receiving the vaccine."
Despite her ordeal, Ashanti remains hopeful.
"I know God will see me through this, but I want to be an advocate for individuals to have proper information concerning my experience with the vaccines so they can make an informed decision about their life and future. I'm in no way anti-vaccination, but people deserve to know there are risks and what some of those risk are.
"My life has been changed, and I have a couple of surgeries and implants to show for it. But God, I am a MuSK MG survivor."
A host of gospel performers are joining forces to remind Ashanti that she is not alone. "A Night of Love for Ashanti Harvey" starts at 6 p.m. Saturday, June 25 at Transformation Center International, 1111 Hazel St., where the young singer and her mother worship.
Offerings made at Saturday's program will go to the approximately $400 the Harveys spend on insurance co-pay, fuel, lodging and other necessities for Ashanti's weekly treatments, which span about 2 1/2 days, Jessie said. The lineup includes Marilyn Cook, Laken Moore, Andre Simmons-Franklin, Brandy Ross, The Vaughn Sisters and Genesis Gospel Choir. The mime ministries of Kameren Hopkins and Adrienne Brown also are on tap.
Jessie, a minister, is thankful for the support of friends and grateful for the "Night of Love," but she places her confidence in someone else.
"We're trusting in God right now."