A Special Re-Release: Case #17: Every Cure Pt.1 (Dr. David Fajgenbaum)

Murder in Illinois

iHeartPodcasts

True Crime, Society & Culture

3 • 2.6K Ratings

🗓️ 9 September 2025

⏱️ 42 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

We’re celebrating Dr. David Fajgenbaum and revisiting one of our most impactful stories. David was just named to the TIME100 Health list and has a powerful new TED Talk—milestones that reflect the empathy, curiosity, and determination at the heart of his work.

Once a college quarterback and competitive weightlifter, David became critically ill at 25. When standard treatments failed to keep him out of the ICU, he and his friend Grant raced to save his life by repurposing existing drugs and laying the foundation for Every Cure. His journey shows what’s possible when we ask tough questions, share our experiences, and refuse to give up.

We hope this re-release reminds each of us that we can make a difference—in our own lives and in the lives of others.

We’ll see you very soon for a brand-new season of Symptomatic. Until then, take care and be well.

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****** SPOILER ALERT BELOW ******
If you’re looking for information on Castleman disease or want to learn more about the work of Grant, David, and the Every Cure team, visit EveryCure.org

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello, Symptomatic Family. We'll be back soon with season four featuring more compelling
0:06.3	medical mysteries, but first, we're re-releasing a very special episode in light of some
0:12.2	incredible milestones that deserve celebration. Dr. David Faganbaum is a cherished member of our
0:18.3	expanding symptomatic family, having shared his powerful story in case number 17, David and Every Cure. His journey continues to inspire, and now he's being recognized in a major way. Dr. Faganbaum was recently named to the 2025 Time 100 Health List, honoring the most influential figures in health.
0:40.8	He also just released an incredibly inspiring TED Talk, which we've linked in the episode
0:45.8	description. These achievements reflect the same empathy, curiosity, and determination that
0:51.6	defined his fight to overcome his own rare disease, while ultimately
0:55.9	helping others do the same. David's story is a living testament to what's possible when we ask
1:01.8	tough questions, refuse to give up, and believe in the power of community. It also captures
1:08.1	the very heart of what symptomatic stands for, the courage to seek answers and the strength we find when we share our experiences.
1:16.8	We hope this episode will reinforce the truth that each of us has the power to make a difference, both in our own lives and in the lives of others.
1:25.9	We'll see you very soon for a brand new season of symptomatic.
1:29.5	Until then, take care and be well.
1:35.9	Ruby.
1:41.5	I'll never forget my doctor walking into the room and saying,
1:44.8	David, your liver, your kidneys, your bone marrow, your heart, and your lungs are shutting down.
1:53.7	I was just treating patients down the hall.
1:56.8	I was just spiraling, not knowing what was actually happening, just being so confused, because I had just talked to him like two days ago.
2:04.6	A priest came in and read him his last rites, and then a few of his friends came in and ultimately hugged him goodbye.
2:12.6	I had to take some action, and it had to be like a crazy step, and that is to start testing one of these drugs that I was studying in the lab on myself.
2:25.8	How terrifying would it be to fight an unknown enemy, one you didn't recognize and didn't see coming?
2:33.6	What if that enemy was coming from within,
	...

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