North Providence, Rhode Island
Diagnosed with Hep C in 1989

I am a 54-year-old mom and I’ve had HCV for approximately 18 years. I have a hard swollen abdomen more often than not. I also bruise easily and often. I suffer from severe fatigue and body aches. I was treated with interferon and my hep C seemed to go into a remission of sorts, but now I seem to be having pretty bad symptoms again, such as petechiae (red or purple spots on the skin), nausea, etc.

What three adjectives best describe you?
Weary, aches, nausea

What is your greatest achievement?
Having a healthy teen daughter

What is your greatest regret?
Getting a tattoo

What keeps you up at night?
Worrying about how long I may have left and having to tell my child

If you could change one thing about living with viral hepatitis, what would it be?
The chronic fatigue

What is the best advice you ever received?
Rest, rest and more rest

What drives you to do what you do?
Determination

What is your motto?
Treat others as you would like to be treated

If you had to evacuate your house immediately, what is the one thing you would grab on the way out?
My child

If you could be any animal, what would you be? And why?
A cat. They are soft and soothing and have distinct personalities.