Lil Brother
New member
I'm sure this is old news to most of you, but it has consumed my life and my wifes for the last year. I have fought hepatitis C while Carol has given up everything to nurse me back to health. I've been a moody, bad husband, a not so good dad, and a so-so brother. Everything was put on hold until the fight was over. I was zapped of my energy for the full term and still have a permanent impression of my butt in my recliner. I would sleep late every chance I got only to get out of bed and sleep in my recliner most of the day. Today, the fight is officially over.
My infection started out at 21 million, but had come down to 170 by Christmas. My wonderful doctor found chirrosis when my biopsy was done. What he didn't tell us was that my kind of liver disease had a 50/50 chance to heal completely. He told us today that he didnt think it would come down much further at the time, but wanted us to keep on keeping on. We did and we were both willing to accept whatever came my way. We had even discussed a liver transplant if all else failed.
I've been through a whole lot of "stuff" in my life and for whatever reason, have always survived. I had a lot of chronic drug use in the 70's, was always an alcoholic, and I won't even count the countless auto accidents or childhood diseases.
Tomorrow, I am going by the church to take my name off of the prayer list that I have been on for a year. I get to announce to my brothers and sisters at The Witness Friday night that their prayers have helped and were appreciated. I feel that when I was first diagnosed with this stuff, that God hooked me up with Dr. Rutland for a reason. I was already working with 5 or 6 of the best G. I. doctors in the state, but elected to go 40 miles away to a Dr. that we found in the phone book.
Dr. Rutland told us today that my case was his most gratifying that he has ever been involved with. He has only been in practice for 2 1/2 years, but I'm certain that he will tell this story for years to come. I remember the first session that I had with him. He told us that he would treat me "very aggressively". It took me a year after I found out that I had hep C to prepare myself. I stopped drinking, stopped smoking and finally got mentally ready. It has been a very long battle with everyone involved suffering and giving up things just so that I could be more comfortable.
I am a very happy man tonight just knowing that I have my life back. I am feeling so much stronger every day! I thank you all for your prayers and your friendship and I thank God for bailing me out one more time. I thank my loving wonderful wife who has stuck with me through all of it and putting up with me. I thank my brother and sister for everything,(I love you guys).
What a Journey of Faith that it has been!
God Bless you all,
Lil Brother
My infection started out at 21 million, but had come down to 170 by Christmas. My wonderful doctor found chirrosis when my biopsy was done. What he didn't tell us was that my kind of liver disease had a 50/50 chance to heal completely. He told us today that he didnt think it would come down much further at the time, but wanted us to keep on keeping on. We did and we were both willing to accept whatever came my way. We had even discussed a liver transplant if all else failed.
I've been through a whole lot of "stuff" in my life and for whatever reason, have always survived. I had a lot of chronic drug use in the 70's, was always an alcoholic, and I won't even count the countless auto accidents or childhood diseases.
Tomorrow, I am going by the church to take my name off of the prayer list that I have been on for a year. I get to announce to my brothers and sisters at The Witness Friday night that their prayers have helped and were appreciated. I feel that when I was first diagnosed with this stuff, that God hooked me up with Dr. Rutland for a reason. I was already working with 5 or 6 of the best G. I. doctors in the state, but elected to go 40 miles away to a Dr. that we found in the phone book.
Dr. Rutland told us today that my case was his most gratifying that he has ever been involved with. He has only been in practice for 2 1/2 years, but I'm certain that he will tell this story for years to come. I remember the first session that I had with him. He told us that he would treat me "very aggressively". It took me a year after I found out that I had hep C to prepare myself. I stopped drinking, stopped smoking and finally got mentally ready. It has been a very long battle with everyone involved suffering and giving up things just so that I could be more comfortable.
I am a very happy man tonight just knowing that I have my life back. I am feeling so much stronger every day! I thank you all for your prayers and your friendship and I thank God for bailing me out one more time. I thank my loving wonderful wife who has stuck with me through all of it and putting up with me. I thank my brother and sister for everything,(I love you guys).
What a Journey of Faith that it has been!
God Bless you all,
Lil Brother
