Today is the first national Hepatitis Testing Day and I was wondering what the appropriate greeting is for this occasion. “Happy Hepatitis Testing Day” doesn’t seem appropriate; nor does “Merry Hepatitis Testing Day.” I thought about the condolence card approach, something like “Sorry to say it is Hepatitis Testing Day.” If I were going to send a card to commemorate the day, I have no idea what the outside of the card would look like.

What I do know is what the inside of the card would look like. It would say:

Get tested.

If you have hepatitis C, it is better to know than not know.

Knowledge is power.

You are not alone; millions of people in the U.S. have hepatitis C.

Help is a click away: www.hcvadvocate.org

To observe the day, I will be doing a presentation in Grass Valley, CA.

Hepatitis C: Preventable, Manageable, Curable

Presentation and book signing by Lucinda Porter, RN, author of Free from Hepatitis C

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) first national Hepatitis Testing Day is in two more days. The CDC’s campaign has an ingenious slogan—Know More Hepatitis with the term No More cleverly embedded. The message stresses that knowledge and awareness lead to action. In this case, “know more hepatitis” leads to “no more hepatitis.”

It is tempting to bemoan the fact that hepatitis programs are woefully underfunded; to complain about inadequate federal funding specifically for hepatitis and for health in general. However, concentrating on scarcity seems like a misuse of focus. Case in point, an oppressive Egyptian government was toppled with the use of social media. Lack of funding did not stop the Egyptian people from changing the world.

It is time to topple this virus. No more hepatitis begins with know more hepatitis. We need to get the word out, whether you tell, tweet, email, blog, write, or shout it from the rooftops. Join the conversation – join the revolution.

I moved to Grass Valley six years ago. It was love at first sight, a love that gets stronger with time. Grass Valley is nestled in Northern California’s Sierra Foothills. It is beautiful, the people are friendly, and I don’t want to say much more about it because as much as I love it, I don’t want it to get any bigger.

Hepatitis C is always on my mind and I was wondering how many people in Nevada County might have it. My unscientific, but probably low estimate is that 16000-2000 county residents are infected. With the first national Hepatitis Testing Day on May 19^th around the corner, I thought for sure that the Nevada County Public Health Department would offer something—they aren’t. Then I looked to see if Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital was offering something—they aren’t either. That leaves me.

Hepatitis C: Preventable, Manageable, Curable presentation and book signing by Lucinda Porter, RN, author of Free from Hepatitis C

41

An average of 41 people in the United States die every day from complications related to hepatitis C

41

people die from hepatitis C - every day

think about it

41

mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, grandmothers, grandfathers, aunts, uncles

and friends

die every day

41

think about it

but don’t think too long

instead, do something about it - today

41 people need help

*

Spread the word

This poster is compliments of Daryl Luster. I met Daryl via the magic of the Internet. He is an extraordinary man and hepatitis C activist, as well as musician. He contributes to the Hep C Awareness site. Thank you Daryl.

“Be empty of worrying. Why do you stay in prison when the door is so wide open?” – Rumi

According to Buddha, we are what we think. All that we are arises from our thoughts and the world is made by our thoughts.I believe this. Every day, every moment, I have a choice. I can believe that I have a disease that is hurting me, growing in my liver, and displacing healthy liver cells, but I don’t.

Instead, I believe that hepatitis C gives me hope, health, inspiration, and a connection with others that have this disease and share this planet and a passion to change the future. Hepatitis C opened a door to a whole new world, filled with amazing people and opportunities. Even at my lowest, I am grateful for all that hepatitis C given me, and although I would love to get rid of this virus, I appreciate the gifts that came because of it.

What do you think? What do your thoughts say about you? What kind of world have your thoughts created?

Stepping Through a Threshold - Agra, India 2009 photo by L Porter

]]> http://lucindaporterrn.com/2012/05/who-and-what-are-we/feed/ 1 http://lucindaporterrn.com/2012/05/836/ http://lucindaporterrn.com/2012/05/836/#comments Mon, 07 May 2012 23:14:20 +0000 Lucinda Porter, RN http://lucindaporterrn.com/?p=836

Hepatitis C is killing more people than HIV is. One in 33 people born between 1945 and 1965 has hepatitis C, and most of them are unaware that they have this disease. I don’t know about you. but I know a lot of Baby Boomers. After all this is the largest generation.  My goal is singular and clear: I want to raise awareness about hepatitis C, a disease that is preventable, treatable, and curable. Will you join me?

]]> http://lucindaporterrn.com/2012/05/836/feed/ 0 http://lucindaporterrn.com/2012/05/no-regrets/ http://lucindaporterrn.com/2012/05/no-regrets/#comments Sun, 06 May 2012 11:49:11 +0000 Lucinda Porter, RN http://lucindaporterrn.com/?p=827

I want to die with no regrets; I’d like to live this way too. I don’t regret having hepatitis C. I don’t regret trying treatment twice. I could say that I regret having spent any energy regretting, but that was then, and this is now. I just don’t have time for regrets, do you?

Activism

Decisions  Attitude

   FREEDOM     

Hepatitis C – Get Tested  

Support       HOPE

     AWARENESS

help

I am not an optimist; I am a possibilist. ~ Hans Rosling (Statistician who worked in public health in Africa)

I don’t think in terms of possibilities—I think in terms of certainty. I am certain we are creating a world free from hepatitis C. End of story.