"Those who do not find time every day for health must sacrifice a lot of time one day for illness." Sebastien Kniepp.

"I will prescribe regimen for the good of my patients according to my ability and my judgment and never do harm to anyone." Hippocrates

October 20, 1993 was a day not unlike any other day in our household. I was on my day of from work, and we had spent the previous day celebrating my youngest daughter's fifth birthday. I hadn't been feeling that great, and I was a little more low key than usual, but it didn't stop me from going to the pool to swim a few laps. Up 'till this point, I thought I was in pretty good shape, with jogging and gym work, but lately I'd been feeling exhausted after workouts, and some nights I'd just come home from work and go straight to bed.

On the evening of the 20th, I had dinner, and about an hour later, I felt like I'd just developed an extreme case of the flu. I ran to the bathroom just in time to vomit blood all over the floor and collapse in a heap in the corner. My daughter came to the door and I remember asking her to get her mom. Next thing I knew, I was being hauled off to the hospital in the family van.

The next four days were a blur, really, and the only thing I remember is the staff at V.G.H. working feverishly to keep me alive. It's the strangest sensation, feeling the life force flow out of your body. No pain -- just an outflow of feeling.

Four days later, the day the Blue Jays won the World Series, was the first day I remember clearly. Upon waking, I was informed that I had hepatitis C, and that I'd had an esophageal bleed, my liver had shut down, and I had about 30% function left. A light went on at this time, and I realized what my symptoms had been for the last 10 years. I'd been to the doctors at least 12 to 15 times since 1983, complaining of liver pain and exhaustion. Nothing was discovered, of course, because at that time, Hep C didn't have a test, and didn't even have a name!

This is one of the main reasons for my involvement with the Hep C awareness movement. If it had been discovered in 1983, and I had been told how to properly manage and take care of myself, I may not have gone through the terrible experience of having my liver shut down and have my guts literally ripped out of my body. I want people to benefit from my experience and hopefully avoid the drastic measures I had to undergo.

After my initial esophageal bleed, my options for a full life were severely limited. In April of '94, I went to the B.C. Transplant Society for the first time,and within 20 minutes, Dr. Erb informed me that I would need a transplant within 18 months to 2 years.

Twenty months after my first bleed, I had another one. I had lost 80 lbs., and I looked like a pregnant woman, with fluid build up on my abdomen. I couldn't eat. I couldn't walk without help. I couldn't drive. I couldn't bathe, get up, or get down without help. Despite what I couldn't do, I never gave up hope. I never said, "Why me?". Why not me? People get sick all the time. Thousands of people die every day. If I was going to die from liver failure due to Hep C, I certainly wasn't going to go by myself. One door had closed on my life, but another one was opening.

After my second bleed, I was hospitalized for two more weeks, and my wife was informed that I had about 6 weeks left to live. I was already making plans for the possibility of dying, but I wasn't giving up. I made a video for my family. I even made a music tape to be played at my funeral. Ha!

I was reading a lot of books on Christian and Buddhist religion and making my peace with God. I tried to see my friends, old and new, talking long distance to old friends in other countries.

Of course, all bets were off, for six weeks later, my pager went off, and I went under the knife. The rest is history, and I've never looked back.

I'm coming up to 2 years now with a new liver donated by someone who died so that I might live. Not a day goes by that I don't pray for that person and I must admit that this experience has changed me spiritually. I still have the old anxieties and frustration of life, but I have them in perspective most of the time.

Trying to create awareness of Hep C has become a mission for me. I would like to see people avoid going through what I went through by increasing their own education, knowledge and awareness.

The Victoria office is running much better as we become more organised, but again, we appeal for a few more hands for it to be effective in the community. The telephone number is 388-4311. A reminder: there are raffle tickets to be sold. Contact Judith at 592-0252.

Membership Clarification: Being a member in good standing in the HeCSC means that you have made application on the required form, which, together with your cheque (Made payable to HeSCS for $20.00), has been mailed to the head office in Toronto, either directly or through your chapter secretary. A tax receipt and membership card will be issued by Head Office and you will receive the national newsletter. Touching base with your local chapter (just being on our BC database), and receiving the BC newsletter, does not make you a member in good standing of the Society, even though you have subscribed ($10.00) to the BC newsletter. (hepcBC.bull) We urge you to take out a membership. It helps when we apply for grants and place issues before both provincial and federal governments. With all this downsizing about, it is much more difficult to obtain funds to enable us to keep the awareness program up and running. The more we do, the more is required of the program, hence the need for more funding.

Enough from me. Have a nice summer!!!!!

Another Reminder:- (Gosh, I'm full of them) Any change of address, phone number or Postal Code, please let me, your phone contact (in Victoria) or your chapter secretary (B.C) know at your earliest. It saves our meagre funds. Thanks.

386-8227 Jim Lodge

Vice-chairperson, Membership Chair, and Acting Secretary

e-mail: ut301@freenet.victoria.bc.ca

Victoria Chapter HeCSC acknowledges the personal donations, donations in kind and memorial donations received to date and the following for discounts, donations of services, or equipment: Monk Office Supply. CFAX 1070 Radio, and Apple Canada..

Victoria Chapter has lost another long-time member of its group. On Sunday, July 13th, Bob Hastings from Fanny Bay passed away from complications due to Hepatitis C. Bob was a musical promoter with Ace Bookings. The 45 year old, born on Vancouver Island, died at home. He is survived by his wife, Leona.