Hi, my name is Kathleen, and I'm 27 yrs. old.

I have Hep.C, and I'm a survivor. I found out on Feb. 2004 I had Hep.C at the VA in Waco, TX through an annual check-up, and blood work. I'm not sure how I came to contract Hep-C, but knew that when I found out that I was devastated to say the least. I had been engaged at the time , and I was faithful to him, but he was in another state, and so was I. Well he got tested and turned up negative.

I can only think of other sources as the dentist, but there was no way since I went to the dentist three days before I went to the VA. It takes the human body 3-6 mos. to build up immunity to the disease. I was back at sqaure one-the red cross had a blood drive at my school-but I hate needles, and was afraid to have my blood taken, but I did. I also had a flu shot thru the VA in Oct. 2003. None of this info. was adding up until I remembered that I had used one of my friends razors.It is so hard to place blame, but….once I found out I had it, then I went to this website, to see how a person can contract Hep.C I was in awe. I told my friend-we were in the same Natl.Guard unit at that time, and I stayed the night at her house, and thought oh man, I forgot my razor! I'll just use hers.

Telling my friend, my ex-fiance', and my family was one of the hardest things I've ever done in my life-besides Basic Training. I was in the Army Active Duty for three years, and am now currently in the Natl. Guard. Well anyways, when I told my friend, she blew it off, like she couldn't believe it, and actually kind of laughed about it.

I think that either she had it, and was in denial, or she thought that I was krazy and that I was joking about it-but I really wasn't. My friend and I don't speak much now, but I'm calm about it now. I believe that all things happen for a reason. Maybe this happened to me to make me a better and stronger person. I guess that I'll never know that answer, but I do know this, that I definetly believe in God more than ever now. I've come to a point now, that I get down about it, but I still live my life to the fullest everyday, and try to stay positive and pray. I've also come to a point where now that I want to mail my friend those results old, and new( I was tested this year in Mar. still showing my viral load of 850,000 per milliliter of blood-the same a year before which was good, it's not worse at least).

I was severely depressed for a whole year. I managed to graduate college successfully, but was financially not able to find a good job. I told myself that I would give it a year, and I'd be back on my feet.I'm already pretty much at that point, and I'm so happy to feel alive again. I felt so dead for a year. Also my ex-fiance' left me because of this, and other reasons, but I know deep down that he didin't want to be with me-a "leper",that's how I truly felt. When I went on this website though, and found out that millions of people have this disease, not just me, I was so relieved. I just couldn't believe that was humanly possible. I like this website because you can share your experiences with other people that feel the same as you, or that are sick, and they can offer treatment advice or meds. that might help. I find great comfort in that. Thank You for letting me share this story. I hope that it can be great comfort to many people like me, that are in that 10-15% range of confusion about this disease. The last thing I want to say, is that we all need to keep having hope, and never give up.