Over 100 more hGH recipients have contracted CJD world-wide. Wakefield has so far dodged the CJD bullet, but he has been plagued with myriad health problems, including chronic depression and obesity. His life began turning around last September, when Wakefield began receiving daily injections of an unlikely new treatment, which helped him lose approximately 60 pounds and find the energy to go out and look for a job. A new, synthetic version of human growth hormone. Wakefield thus finds himself in the peculiar position of taking the synthetic version of the very thing that has caused him so much grief.
Life is more than being a fat blob on a couch.
But he has, of course, learned to temper his excitement. As a child, I received a product thought to be benign and wonderful. Now I take a product that doesn't have that particular risk, but may be risky for some unforeseen problem. I guess you're damned if you do, and damned it you don't. Good intentions, bad science The little-known story of the hGH experiments began with great optimism.