To be very honest I don't know that the initial shock has gone away yet. We are a family of three with HCV. The virus was detected when my oldest son dicided to donate blood at school for a local blood drive. Within 10 days we received a letter from the blood bank stating that we need to follow up with our family doctor. At first we where told of how many times these test are wrong and more than likely it was nothing to worry about. It took eight days to get the results back. Again it was positive. Another test was ordered. This same process was repeated three times. The next two months was the experience of hurry up and wait. The whole family under went a series of test. The final result was that my two teenage boys and myself are positive for HCV, genotype 1A. The next step was for the boys to both have liver biopsies. Some good news for a change both has minimal to no damage.

After the diagnosis the emotional roller coaster ride began for me. The bad thing about this ride is that there are no seat belts.

We began to research and read anything pertain to HCV. Each of the boys has their own specialist that they see. My oldest son just turned 18 and he sees an infectious disease doctor who recommended that he start on interferon/ribavirin treatment. His viral count at the start was 5 million. He is now half way through the treatment and the virus is undetectable at this time. We will know more when the treatment is over. The youngest is 14 and his viral count is very low around 2 thousand at the start. According to the doctors with each test his count has been dropping on it own. The body is a remarkable thing. He has blood drawn every three months at a pediatric gastrological doctors office. I have been unable to find a lot of information for treatment of pediatric patients. I have chosen to proceed with my liver biopsy and treatment after my oldest son is through with his. My viral count at this time is 17 million.

If I am learning anything from this process it is how things can change so quickly. There are no promises or guarantees. There is always hope and I am not alone in any of this. I continue to attend support groups today. I need to be reminded you can go on with your life. This is not a death sentence. We are more likely to die from something else. I know I am a survivor of many things today and most of all I am learning to survive my feelings and emotions. I have found peace when reaching out for spiritual support not only through prayer and meditation but the words of another human that is going through this also. I am told we can get through this together. I have faith today that we all can.