Hepatitis C, best and worst stories.

Over the past five years that I have been helping people access Hep C treatments, I have seen the best and the worst of humanity.

On the “best” side I have seen many people do whatever they could to help others. People have donated time and money and medicine to help total strangers beat Hepatitis C.

On the “worst” side I have seen some terrible scammers. People promising medication or some kind of miracle cure only to take the money and run. Often these people exploit the most impoverished, desperate, and vulnerable people.

Last week I had one “best” and one “worst” experience right beside each other.

Seeing the Good in People.

Back in March this year I received an email from a woman in the USA who was desperate to get Hep C treatment. She was a registered nurse who believed that she had picked up Hepatitis C during the course of her work. Because she did not know exactly how or when she had been infected with hep C there was no way to prove she had been infected at work.  When she eventually learned she had Hep C C she had recently lost her job and was too sick to find any kind of nursing work.

She did not have insurance:

Good afternoon Greg,

I have attached medical documentation of my positive Hep C results.  At this time I do have financial hardships.  I am off of work due to neck and shoulder injuries and am receiving a much reduced wage compensation than what I had been previously making. 

I do not receive child support from my ex-husband of my first two children….he owes over $48,000 and the courts just don’t seem to see the enormity of the non-payment as I do. 

I am a single mother of 3 children, my income is $398/week;  My mortgage payment is $800/month (includes taxes and home owners insurance), vehicle insurance $200/month which I have to maintain, gas for heating my home, electric bill, and water/sewer and garbage bill.  All of these bills currently exceed my monthly income.  I am hopeful that the situation will be rectified in the near future, but I am not sure when that will happen.  If you need documentation to show my income and expenses I will happily provide.  I was not sure how much information you would want or need and I did not want to inundate you. 

If you are able to reduce the cost at this time, I would GREATLY appreciate it, and would be able to pay the reduced rate,  Otherwise, it may be months or years before I am able to afford the full price.  I would like to get the Hep C treated and out of my system.  Options weren’t available for me at the time of my diagnosis, and I found out about you through my 2nd ex-husband, who went through you to treat his Hep C, and he is all clear!  I will send a donation to you in the future when my situation changes to cover the discount as well as make a donation for someone else to receive the medication they need. 

Please let me know if you will consider reducing the rate for me at this time, and if so – how to get the payment to you, and if there is any further documentation you need.  I am so grateful for you and what you do to help people.

Thank you for your time and consideration,

M

She was able to borrow from friends just $300 and asked if I would supply her the medication for that amount.

Of course I did and M went on to clear the Hep C, regain her health and get back into the work force.

To be honest I had forgotten about M until I received an email last week:

On 16 Sep 2020, at 1:51 am, M wrote:

Hi Greg,

I hope you are doing well and are safe considering all that is going on amidst the insanity of the world right now. I pray for you and the world each day. I would like to send you $500.   I appreciate all you do and have $500 I am able to send to you at this time,

Please let me know What would work best to get the funds to you, and thank you again for all you do & have done for so many.

M

Hep C Stories: The Worst

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