Not a Lab Rat. A Patient With a Voice.

Living through a trial taught me the truth and why patients need to be heard. I never gave clinical trials much thought. In my mind, they were for guinea pigs. Like many of you, I believed patients were treated as test subjects.

Then my world changed. I became that patient. Surgery wasn’t possible, medicine wasn’t working, and hospice became my reality. Suddenly, clinical trials weren’t just something for “other people.” They became my only option.

What I learned changed how I see them:

✨ Trials aren’t just a last resort. Mine was for patients with no surgery options, but many trials include people in earlier stages or even healthy volunteers to test prevention, screening, or better treatments.

✨ They don’t always mean “untested” medicine. Some trials compare treatments that are already approved to see which one works best.

✨ Every trial adds to the bigger picture. Even if a treatment doesn’t help everyone, the knowledge gained helps doctors and patients in the future.

The belief that trials are only for the desperate keeps many people from even considering them. And behind that belief is fear...fear of the unknown, fear of side effects, fear of being a guinea pig, and fear shaped by history.

Many patients don’t think about clinical trials until they’re out of options, like I was. But trials aren’t only about last chances, they’re also about discovery, prevention, and progress for patients at every stage. I was denied twice before getting into my clinical trial. Later, the team circled back, they had learned from the patients they did help and realized they could open the door a little wider. That’s how I finally got my chance!

💡 My biggest lesson: Don’t wait until it’s your only option. Ask about clinical trials early.

That’s why I share my journey through HeartBridge Collective, so patients can walk this bridge with knowledge, support, and a voice in how care is designed.

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