读者文摘:他治好了自己的病(4)（在线收听）

A protein called vascular endothelial growth factor, or VEGF, was spiking at ten times its normal level.

一种叫做血管内皮生长因子的蛋白质的峰值是正常水平的10倍。

David had learned in medical school that VEGF controls blood vessel growth,

大卫在医学院学过血管内皮生长因子控制血管生长，

and he hypothesized that the blood moles that had shown up with every Castleman relapse were a direct result of that protein spike, which signals the immune system to take action.

他假设每次卡斯特曼疾病复发时出现的血痣都是蛋白质激增的直接结果，这是免疫系统采取行动的信号。

He also knew that there was an immunosuppressant called sirolimus that was approved by the FDA to help fight the immune system when it activated against kidney transplants.

他还知道有一种名为西罗莫司的免疫抑制剂，已获美国食品药品管理局批准，可以帮助对抗因肾脏移植而激活的免疫系统。

After consulting with a National Institutes of Health expert, David asked his doctor to prescribe the drug.

在咨询了美国国立卫生研究院的专家后，大卫要求他的医生开这种药。

He picked it up in February 2014 at a pharmacy less than a mile from his home.

2014年2月，他在离家不到一英里的一家药店买到了这款药。

“A drug that could potentially save my life was hiding in plain sight,” he says. So far, it’s working.

他说：“一种有可能拯救我生命的药物就藏在眼前。”到目前为止，它还有效。

David has been in remission from Castleman for more than six years.

大卫的卡斯特曼病情已经缓解了六年多的时间。

He’s not the muscular football player he once was, but he’s close to full strength.

他不再是以前那种肌肉发达的足球运动员了，但已经接近全力了。

He is now an assistant medical professor at the University of Pennsylvania,

他现在是宾夕法尼亚大学的助理医学教授，

running a research lab and enrolling patients in a clinical trial for the drug that has given him his life back.

他开办了一个研究实验室，让病人参与药物的临床试验，正是这种药物让他找回了生活。

In 2018, he and Caitlin became parents when their daughter, Amelia, was born.

2018年，他和凯特琳的女儿阿米莉亚出生，他们成为了父母。

“She’s such a little miracle,” Caitlin says.

“她真是个小奇迹，”凯特琳说。

“We’re so lucky to have her.” David hopes his story offers lessons far beyond medicine about what people can do when they’re backed against a wall.

“我们很幸运能拥有她。大卫希望他的故事能给人们提供远远超出医学范畴的教训，告诉他们在绝境中可以做些什么。

And he feels his suffering means something when he looks in the eyes of his patients with Castleman disease.

当他看着他的卡斯特曼病患者的眼睛时，他觉得自己的痛苦意味着什么。

One girl, named Katie, was diagnosed at age two and endured 14 hospitalizations.

其中一个名叫凯蒂的女孩在两岁时被确诊，并住院14次。

Then her doctor prescribed David’s drug after the family reached out to the CDCN.

在家人联系卡斯托曼病协作网络之后，她的医生给大卫开了药。

Katie hasn’t been hospitalized since and just finished kindergarten.

凯蒂从那以后就没有住过院，现在刚从幼儿园毕业。

She has even learned how to ride a bike.

她甚至学会了骑自行车。