I applied to the National Institutes of Health’s Office of Rare Diseases Research for a chronic health issue but was declined. After my referring doctor inquired into the reason for rejection, he was told that the ORDR simply had no new recourse that hadn't been tried by my previous doctors. Deeply convicted I suffer from a one-in-a-billion ailment, I appealed in writing to William Gahl, head of the Office and received no response. Turns out I most likely have a disorder that’s only been discovered ten years ago and not observed in human subjects yet. Thankfully, I found a leading researcher in Europe that was very willing to offer me suggestions. Incidents like these are pushing me away from a results-oriented society like this one towards others that are more geared towards research and helping the ailing.

Submitted June 29, 2014