I have a very rare immune-mediated neurological disease affecting my peripheral nervous system, that started at age 5, in 1994. The disease was discovered on NIH research grant funds in the 2000s. But, the grant funding is never remotely enough, respective to need, for society.
In 2012, my medical problems became so severe that I scavenged the medical literature. I was tremendously lucky to come across such literature, ultimately describing the disease I have. At the time, there were only 38 articles written about it. Anyways, I was tested for it, and I had the antibody.
Soon after, I literally had a near-death experience. Anyways, I was 22, and I was basically a kid. My parents and my twin brother pretty much saw me on my deathbed.
I am in pharmaceutical remission now, after trying about 10 different treatments, plus combinations of them. It was never statistically likely that I would end up like this, let alone be alive.
I am culturally American, but I hold dual citizenship also with Croatia, so I am a European Union citizen. I am not as sentimental about being American as other people. Honestly, the only reason why I would never renounce my American citizenship is because the US ultimately saved my life, along with others around the world.
In 2012, my medical problems became so severe that I scavenged the medical literature. I was tremendously lucky to come across such literature, ultimately describing the disease I have. At the time, there were only 38 articles written about it. Anyways, I was tested for it, and I had the antibody.
Soon after, I literally had a near-death experience. Anyways, I was 22, and I was basically a kid. My parents and my twin brother pretty much saw me on my deathbed.
I am in pharmaceutical remission now, after trying about 10 different treatments, plus combinations of them. It was never statistically likely that I would end up like this, let alone be alive.
I am culturally American, but I hold dual citizenship also with Croatia, so I am a European Union citizen. I am not as sentimental about being American as other people. Honestly, the only reason why I would never renounce my American citizenship is because the US ultimately saved my life, along with others around the world.