Christine Raesfeld’s story is a profound look at what happens when “whatever could go wrong in healthcare did.” For 48 years, Christine has lived with over 30 listed conditions—from autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathy to toxic encephalopathy—yet she remains without a single underlying diagnosis. Having been sick her entire life, she has faced the highest of stakes, including having her last rites read to her multiple times and surviving a year-long psychotic break.
Her journey is a testament to the power of precision medicine. Through pharmacogenomics at Stanford, she discovered that her body metabolizes compounds differently than most, allowing her to finally tailor medications to avoid the devastating side effects that previously led to three joint replacements and macular degeneration. Today, her “functional” life is maintained by Rituxan infusions every six months—a treatment she looks forward to, having built a deep community with the nurses at Stanford Hospital.
Christine has moved past feeling like a “burden” to becoming a powerhouse in the medical industry. She is a leading voice in the data economy, working with organizations like the NIH and CMS to advocate for a “multiomic” approach to healthcare. Her vision is radical and necessary: she believes patients should have agency over their own data, using it as a currency to spark innovation. Christine’s story is no longer just about survival; it is about forcing a shift from a reactive healthcare system to a proactive one that treats patients as valuable experts in their own care.