Call It By Its Name & Take Away Its Power

I was diagnosed with hepatitis C fifteen years ago when I donated blood. I went to the nearest hospital where they verified it was hepatitis C. I was so scared and so ashamed I refused to go back to any doctor for fear of what they news they may have told me.

Thirteen years have passed and I had accepted my faith that one day I would die a horrible death. Throughout the last few years, I would see all the commercials about cures for hepatitis C and thought, well, maybe I will give it a try. Worst-case scenario would be doctor told me there was nothing they could do, and with that said I had already accepted my faith so no more harm is done.

My viral load was at almost 18,000 when I last had blood drawn. So I made my appointment with infectious disease and did more lab testing. I remember sitting in the waiting room that morning calmly when they called me to the examining room. I remember thinking while I answered their questions: don’t drink, don’t do drugs anymore, don’t eat simple carbs, don’t eat fats, take my vitamins, exercise and pray faithfully.

Then the nurse practitioner walked in and introduced herself as she sat and told me there was nothing they could do for me. I looked at her in shock while the tears began to fall from my eyes and roll down my cheeks. Then she said “No your viral load is 15. Big difference from almost 18,000. We do not treat 15. There is nothing to treat. Your body is ridding itself of the virus. Then the tears of joy came as I thanked her and ran to my car to call all my family and friends to share the good news. Go figure. Still cannot believe it.

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