(The following message was shared on Linkedin)
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Something I’ve never told the entire world; only those closest to me know about it. I was too embarrassed. I hate that it’s on LinkedIn (a career-focused platform), but my worlds have collided and health research is at risk because of this terrifying administration. We are at a crossroads in America. So, the time has come to tell my story.
I Am Alive Today Because of Science and Research.
There was a time when I felt like I was disappearing. My body was failing me, my mind was unraveling, and no one could explain why. I was being misdiagnosed and medicated for diseases and mental disorders I did not have. The weight of uncertainty and despair was unbearable. I was desperate for answers, and beyond reproach. I thought I’d lose everyone and everything. Including my beloved husband and my children. I am ashamed to admit I considered ending my own life for the sake of others.
What I really had was Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI)—an autoimmune disease where the ovaries stop functioning before the age of 40. POI doesn’t just affect fertility; it wreaks havoc on hormonal balance, bone health, cardiovascular function, and mental well-being. I was suffering, both physically and emotionally, without knowing why.
Then, NIH saved my life.
Dr. Lawrence M ‘Doc’ Nelson, a dedicated researcher at the National Institutes of Health, was leading a study on POI and autoimmune-related reproductive disorders. He saw what no one else did. He knew what was happening to me. He enrolled me in an NIH research protocol, giving me not just a diagnosis, but a path forward. Through his work, I was able to receive the specialized care and treatment I desperately needed. More importantly, I finally had answers.
NIH didn’t just give me treatment, it gave me back my life.
This is why funding for medical research matters. NIH isn’t just a government agency…it’s a lifeline for millions of people searching for answers, for hope, for a second chance at life. It funds the scientists who push the boundaries of medicine, the doctors who refuse to let their patients suffer without reason, and the breakthroughs that change and save lives EVERY SINGLE DAY.
I am living proof of that.
We cannot allow NIH funding to be weakened. We cannot allow scientists like Dr. Nelson to lose the resources they need to make life-changing discoveries. Science is not a luxury—it is a necessity. And for some of us, it is the difference between life and death.
Signed,
Someone who is alive today only because of science and research.
