Personal account, based on author’s journal and experience over the course of 11 years, offers insider’s look and calls for action on prevention
LACONIA, N.H., Oct. 20, 2009 — In the United States alone, it is estimated that up to four million people carry the Hepatitis C virus. More common than HIV, the Hepatitis C infection rate is expected to continue to rise. Despite these alarming facts, most people know little about the liver disease, apart from its name, and that’s exactly why one survivor, Gregory David, is shedding light on the seriousness of the disease through his personal account, Breaking Free from Hepatitis C: A Personal Journey (http://www.breakingfreefromhepatitisc.com).
“My journey with Hepatitis C began the hard way - when I received a life insurance company’s letter denying me coverage based on the presence of the disease and my alcohol use in the past six years,” David says. “As a recovering alcoholic, I knew I hadn’t had a drop to drink during that time period, so I didn’t believe the bit about Hepatitis C either. I thought it was a mistake on the part of the insurance company. But sure enough, a follow-up test revealed I was positive for Hep C, which I didn’t know anything about, and this marked the beginning of a very emotional, physically painful yet enlightening experience. Because I’m here today and am thriving, I’m now sharing my story, and offering inspiration and education for others facing what could be the biggest battle of their life.”
Hepatitis C is a liver disease that can be acute or chronic. Some people don’t recognize initial symptoms, which can pass for the flu as early as a few weeks after it’s contracted. While acute cases can disappear, Hepatitis C typically evolves into a chronic condition, in which its serious symptoms can take up to 20 years to manifest. Hepatitis C attacks the liver, creating long-term infection that can lead to death. David’s book discusses many of the ways Hepatitis C is contracted.
“Just this past summer, a Colorado nurse, who was swapping her used dirty syringes filled with saline solution for ones containing a painkiller, possibly exposed thousands to Hepatitis C and did infect dozens in Colorado and maybe other states, too,” David notes. “The disease is spread in multiple ways, and considering the projected rate of infection in years to come, Hep C has the potential to wreak havoc on our health care system. Education and prevention are critical in controlling the future impacts of this disease.”
Written as a resource for individuals who find themselves in the scary situation of a Hepatitis C diagnosis, Breaking Free from Hepatitis C: A Personal Journey also provides family and friends with critical insights into what a loved one with Hepatitis C is enduring, as well as adds another voice to the public discourse on health care delivery and policy priorities.
David’s book is available in soft-cover, hard-cover, e-Book, and Kindle and Sony Reader formats from BreakingFreeFromHepatitisC.com (http://www.breakingfreefromhepatitisc.com), http://www.Amazon.com and http://www.BarnesandNoble.com. David is available for public speaking engagements, book signings, media interviews and more. Visit him at the Miami Book Fair International Street Fair at Miami Dade College on Nov. 13-15.
Contact:
Gregory David
Gregory@GregoryDavidBooks.com
603-630-3995
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