I was born with a rare disease during a time where it was not understood, and there was certainly no treatment. This piece highlights the duality between being a savior of science and giving up bodily autonomy. I participated in clinical trial studies growing up, and I felt like my body didn’t belong to me. I was now known as patient #2 of the children’s study. I was tested, tracked, and followed, all for the name of science. Emphasis was put on the great work I did, hence the halo surrounding the skull, but the feeling of being reduced to just an organism, as represented through the scientific skull remained strong. While others my age experienced the usual milestones, I was navigating clinical trials, balancing the pride of contributing to science with the vulnerability of feeling reduced and exposed. This piece communicates my experience with having a rare disease, and the duality of growing up as a lifelong test subject; feeling both valued and vulnerable. Birth Year: 2006