“Harvard Medical Student Eats 720 Eggs” broadcast headlines across the world. The egg-eating news filled five Google search pages and collected tens of millions of reads and views across media platforms. It rang of frivolous, goofy clickbait—but it’s far more than that.
We will return to my viral “Eggsperiment” shortly, but first, I want to dissect the “why” behind this publicity stunt—its roots planted five years ago and across an ocean. B was a middle-aged French woman living in Oxford, England, where I was completing my doctorate. She had a warm smile, a strong accent, and the aura of a person you just wanted to hug.
Unfortunately, B was suffering from early-onset Parkinson’s disease, a debilitating neurodegenerative disease that manifests with tremors, difficulty walking, and—in B’s case—crippling depression. Add to that inflamed joints and obesity, possibly brought about by her pharmacy of medications and the profound physical constraints of Parkinson’s disease. Despite all that, B was a woman who brought your heart to your throat.
B was the epitome of someone who deserved so much better than the hand she was dealt. She entered my life as a participant in a clinical trial I was leading for my doctorate at Oxford. When the trial ended, she asked for my support with her diet, as she wanted to lose the weight she’d gained during her illness.
I leaped at the opportunity to help my new friend. Well, I less leaped than pushed. I pushed her around .