I generally watch less than 3 hours of tv per week and even then it is just a couple shows that I record. That leaves me with 0 hours of commercials (Fine by me).
About a month ago I just happened to have the tv on in the background. I was doing some clean up around the house and wanted to break the silence which I don't think I even hear 90% of the stuff that is really on there. I just happened to hear the very end of a commercial that was doing a clinical study on a condition my brother has. They were giving out the number to call at the moment I heard what was going on. I DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO WRITE WITH!!! I said the telephone number out loud at least 50 times so that I could memorize it. To this day I still remember the number. 
I called my brother which by the way hasn't been able to get much treatment due to lack of funds and insurance. Him and his wife and daughter made the 6 hour drive up to Franklin TN within 2 days of the phone call. This treatment is free and will last him the rest of his life. We were all SO excited! He was ready to get better and get back to work so that he could provide for his family!
They arrived here in Nashville and set out the next day to the hospital with big smiles on their faces and full of hope and relief. About an hour later he calls me and says "We have been turned away". I of course was heartbroken. 2 days earlier they were told to come up and once they got here they were told that the study was full and they were not taking any more patients. I couldn't believe that he had gotten this close to be let down.
They left immediately for their 6 hour drive back home. Once they got there they decided to do some research and found out that there was a treatment center close to their home! He made the call and went up there immediately. They accepted him into the program and apparently he was the last person in the COUNTRY to be accepted for this study at the time.
Since then, he has gradually been feeling better. I know he didn't get into the study that I saw on tv BUT if it wasn't for that commercial he would have never known about the study. Who would have thought a television commercial would actually benefit someone:)
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