The Art of Balancing Medicine and Mortality
The story of a life-threatening illness, a miraculous recovery, and the fragility of the human body
For privacy purposes, any potentially identifying details in this story have been altered. Consent was given by the patient to share their story.
It starts with a subtle unease.
A college student in her early twenties can’t describe what’s wrong with her because she isn’t sure anything is wrong. She’s normally brimming with energy but something feels off. Maybe she’s tired. Maybe she’s stressed. Maybe she’s behind in her college classes.
As the weeks pass, vague unease coalesces into sinking fear. Something is definitely wrong. She’s tired all the time. Her appetite is gone. She withdraws from her social life, and her grades start to dip. Deep inside her, an autoimmune illness takes hold.
Her primary care doctor runs tests, but everything seems normal. She develops a cough and starts antibiotics. Despite the antibiotics, she feels worse. Her joints ache, and she’s plagued by low-grade fevers. Her cough persists.
Her doctor runs more tests. Diagnostic blood tests show high inflammation. She starts taking steroids. For a few days, she feels great. She eats again, goes to class, and…
