By ROB FORBES
They say health is wealth, and no phrase rings truer for a nation striving to reclaim its greatness.
America cannot be great again if we do not act now to change the trajectory of our children’s future and our nation’s health. The moment demands leadership, courage, and accountability. And it demands Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s decisive vote to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
I grew up in Alaska, where resilience, courage, and independence define who we are. My father, an Air Force veteran, moved us to Elmendorf Air Force Base in 1986 when I was just 4. I have always been proud to say, “I’m from Alaska,” a statement that evokes vast lands, boundless opportunities, and a free-thinking, independent people.
But today, that pride feels shadowed by the heavy hand of politics, and the cost has been my health, my future, and my trust.
As a husband, father, and business owner, I, like so many Alaskans, followed the guidance of our leaders during the Covid pandemic. I believed in doing my part to “get back to normal.” On March 4, 2021, I took the first dose of Pfizer’s vaccine. Just 11 days later, my life was forever changed. What should have been a step toward normalcy left me fighting for my life on the operating table at the Alaska Heart Institute.
My initial diagnosis was dismissed, my concerns ignored, and I was urged to take the second dose despite my life-threatening experience. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, and I will bring an army.
For three long years, I endured physically and mentally grueling treatments at some of the best medical institutions in the country—Johns Hopkins, the University of Washington Heart Failure Center, and the Mayo Clinic.
The final diagnosis was clear:Â Vaccine-Induced Myocardial Scarring and Sustained Arrhythmia.
I am not alone. Alaskans like me, people who embody the spirit of the Last Frontier, have suffered in silence for too long. But this week, we are silent no more. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has given us hope, a voice, and a movement. For the first time since that horrific day in 2021, I feel a renewed sense of passion and purpose. His tireless advocacy for accountability in the medical industry and his commitment to restoring public trust in our health institutions are precisely what this nation needs.
In October, I flew across the country to Washington, D.C., to stand among thousands of Americans, united by a vision of hope and health. We heard from RFK Jr., Tulsi Gabbard, and Jordan Peterson about what it truly means to make America great again. For the first time in years, I believed. But belief alone won’t heal this nation—action will.
Sen. Murkowski, you hold the power to ensure the promise of a healthier, stronger America is fulfilled. Alaskans like me are watching and waiting. This is your moment to do your part, just as you asked us to do ours. My 14-hour journey to D.C., standing 10 hours in solidarity, and returning home on little rest will pale in comparison to the fight I will bring if you fail to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
America deserves leaders who will prioritize the health and well-being of its people over politics and bureaucracy. Our children deserve to grow up free from the shadow of a health system that has failed us. Alaskans demand the same integrity and independence we’ve always prided ourselves on. The stakes are high, but the choice is simple.
Senator Murkowski, I, Rob Forbes, along with the Army of vaccine-injured Alaskans, demand that you confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead our nation’s health institutions into a new era of transparency, accountability, and true health. The future of our children—and of America—depends on it.
Rob Forbes is a business owner, entrepreneur, father and husband, and resident of downtown Anchorage.
