Patient Testimonies

Real Stories, Real People

Patient Testimonies

We had to sell our home.

My name is Stephanie and I am a resident of Kansas. My journey with high drug prices started when my son Ryan was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in August of 2018.   He went from being a healthy kid to insulin dependent basically overnight. As the owner of a small business, my family did not […]

Patient Testimonies

The cost blindsided us.

My name is Mark and I am from a small town in Illinois. My wife, Lana, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a rare blood cancer, in 2014. It is treatable, but there is no cure. In May 2015, I retired early at age 62 to help provide care and support for my wife while she […]

Patient Testimonies

Stunned by sticker shock at the pharmacy counter.

My name is Joanna Olson and I am from Beaverton, Oregon. At 85 years old, I am blessed to have quite good health aside from the occasional issue. One of my most recent issues was a blood clotting problem that was exacerbated during travel. Thankfully, it didn’t endanger my life, but I nearly fainted when […]

Patient Testimonies

U.S. Taxpayers Fuel Moderna’s COVID-19 Vaccine

BY DAVID MITCHELL AND SARAH KAMINER BOURLAND As the number of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. surges past 1 million, the invention of a vaccine is the key to bringing a halt to the pandemic. One of the most promising COVID-19 vaccine candidates comes from Moderna Therapeutics. Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine was the first to enter […]

Patient Testimonies

Are we worth nothing at all?

My name is Rachel, I am 24 years old, and I am from Pittsburgh, PA. I live with an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) called Crohn’s disease. For over 15 years, I have been on numerous medications, had countless tests, and survived two bowel resections. But this is minor compared to the impending anxiety that comes […]

Patient Testimonies

A Not-For-Profit Vaccine From Johnson & Johnson? Not so fast.

 BY DAVID MITCHELL, CANCER PATIENT AND FOUNDER, PATIENTS FOR AFFORDABLE DRUGS Ronald Reagan made an old Russian proverb famous when he said, “Trust but verify.” It’s good advice — especially when talking about Johnson & Johnson (J&J), the world’s largest health care company with a record of unethical marketing and price gouging. J&J and its […]

Patient Testimonies

I will die without this drug.

My name is Dirk Last and I am a full-time college student from Minneapolis, Minnesota. I have been type 1 diabetic for 19 years now. I’ll be 24 in April, and I’m terrified of being kicked off of my parents’ insurance when I turn 26 –– and what that will mean for the price of […]

Patient Testimonies

It's a lot for me to manage.

My name is Jayme Thode and I am from Taftsville, Vermont. I am disabled and live with multiple health problems. I take over 30 medications a day, not including antibiotics and other meds I need during the month for acute issues.  It’s just awful. I spend a good amount of my disability money to pay […]