It all started with a whisper on the internet.
Mike Melgarejo, known as “Patient 4” in Elon Musk’s Neuralink trials, vanished from social media, triggering a flurry of rumors about his wellbeing.
Fans, followers, and curious onlookers were left questioning: where had he gone, and why?
The sudden silence sparked intense speculation online, especially after a GoFundMe campaign appeared claiming he was “not in a good place.”
The Man Behind the Headlines
Mike Melgarejo, 44, was a survey technician from San Diego who was diagnosed with ALS, also called Lou Gehrig’s disease, in 2022.
The progressive neurological disorder gradually robs sufferers of muscle control, leaving the brain fully functional while the body deteriorates.
Despite this devastating prognosis, Mike volunteered to become a Neuralink patient in February 2025.
The brain implant didn’t cure ALS, but it enabled him to perform basic tasks remotely using only his mind—briefly making him the first Neuralink patient able to hold a full-time job.
Rumors, Conspiracies, and Online Theories
After the GoFundMe campaign went live in June, online speculation spiraled.
Some sleuths linked Mike’s “disappearance” to Neuralink itself, suggesting that the company might be hiding adverse effects.
Independent journalist Audrey Henson published a Substack post titled Where TF is Patient Four?, pointing out that Mike was one of the few Neuralink participants absent from social media—unusual in a program where patients typically share their progress publicly.
Henson highlighted a supposed discrepancy: a Neuralink video from June 2025 showed Mike thriving, while the GoFundMe painted a picture of a man “ready to give life up.”
She speculated that the fundraiser could be a cover-up or hush money, citing potential conflicts of interest.
The Family Speaks Out
Mike’s wife, Dalila Melgarejo, stepped forward to set the record straight.
She called the claims of conspiracy “nonsense” and explained that her husband’s absence from social media was a personal choice to keep their private struggles private.
“Our family is really going through something terrible,” Dalila told the Daily Mail.
“My husband is eventually going to die within a year or two, and there’s nothing that anybody can do to help him.”
She emphasized that Neuralink had been supportive and kind, refuting claims that the company was hiding anything.
Living with ALS
Dalila described the heartbreak of watching Mike’s body decline while his mind remained sharp.
“It’s horrifying to see someone’s body stop functioning while their brain is still intact,” she said.
She recounted the emotional toll, including nights when Mike lay in bed crying over his condition and the reality of a shortened life.
The family’s financial strain also became a factor.
By late June, Mike could no longer work, making it impossible to support their household.
Dalila shared, “Even with two incomes, it was overwhelming. We couldn’t even pay our rent in July.”
Friends and family have also been helping to find a more accessible home for Mike, as their current apartment is difficult to navigate in a wheelchair.
Clarifying the GoFundMe Campaign
The fundraiser launched by family friend Ryan Biggs was intended to support the family through 2025, similar to how the first Neuralink patient, Noland Arbaugh, inspired donations through social media.
But Dalila worried that online conspiracy theories were hurting their efforts.
“If people stop donating because of these rumors, I don’t even have the words. This was really helping us,” she said.
“What’s happening to us, what’s happening to Michael, is very real.”
Neuralink’s Role
Dalila emphasized that Neuralink has remained in regular contact, checking on Mike’s implant and wellbeing every three months.
“They helped a lot with setting up his monitor, getting him comfortable, just really helping us with what we need. The employees have been a godsend,” she said.
Despite the swirling conspiracy theories, Dalila hopes the public will understand that her family’s experience is deeply personal, not a scandal.
“People need to stop making stuff up. Sometimes assumptions create something out of nothing,” she concluded.
Share on Facebook «||» Share on Twitter «||» Share on Reddit «||» Share on LinkedIn