Hepatitis C, the Silent Epidemic

Hi guys. Haven’t written in a while. Been working on project that‘s very dear to my heart. I formed an advocacy group on facebook that promotes hepatitis C awareness and early detection. The cause has taken over my life (literally) for the past few weeks and has kept me from just about everything else.

Why am I doing this? I have Hepatitis C. I don't know how or when I got it. I want people to learn about it and encourage them to get tested.

On my 40th birthday I donated blood at a local high school. About a week later the Red Cross wrote to inform me that my blood was tainted, that I had tested positive for HCV antibodies.

The news hit me hard. Reading in a letter that I had Hepatitis C was harsh. It left me with more questions than answers. I didn't even know I was sick. The doctors said I was asymptomatic. That was several years ago. To date I still show no signs of infection and my liver enzymes test close to normal.

I would never have known I was infected had I not tried to give blood. I don't know how or when I was exposed, but I do know I have Hepatitis C, and I am doing all the right things to stay healthy. I feel OK right now (a little tired perhaps), but I understand that can change without notice. That's why it's so important to get tested and schedule regular check-ups.

Hepatitis C, the Silent Epidemic promotes hepatitis C awareness and early detection. I started it earlier this month and poured my heart into it. Membership is up and increasing. Donations could be better.

There are three parts to the effort.

1. The group, where we promote hepatitis C awareness and provide information of interest.
2. The cause, where we encourage participation and solicit donations to The American Liver Foundation.
3. The stores, where we sell merchandise, books and apparel that promote hepatitis C awareness. I made a personal pledge to donate fifty percent of all profits from those sites to The American Liver Foundation. (If there was some way to automate the fifty percent contribution, I would do it. Sadly, there doesn't seem to be one. All I can find are all-or-nothing solutions that allow 100% contributions, or nothing at all.)
   

Once I get my head back in the game, I’ll start writing my weekly posts again. If you watch any news at all, you know there are a world of ideas out there to write about. Please stay tuned.