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HV With HCV = Helping Veterans And Families With HCV: www.captainkevindonnelly.com
Each August 5th, I publish an update to Captain Kevin Donnelly, activist, advocate, researcher. Veterans and family members frequently have been walking alone without accurate information on Hepatitis C. This year we seek to define where we are headed. "Vaccine-A --And When The Tombstone Is Inaccurate, You Have To Stand And Make Hard Choices" http://www.geocities.com/hepvet/Kevin6yrs.html
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A donation will be shared for each CATapult CD purchased through CRR Books & CDs, Court Reporter Reference Books, to assist two *special* projects, close to my heart. (September 2003) In memory and honor of my brother, Captain Kevin Drue Donnelly, activist, researcher and friend to many, who died with Hepatitis C, a donation will be shared with "HCV Awareness, Veterans Helping Veterans."
The CDC, Centers for Disease Control, currently posts a number of over five million adults and children within the U.S.A. who have contracted the Hepatitis C virus. Researchers have concluded four times as many people will die from Hep C than AIDS within the next decade, as the Hep virus continues to spread and piggy-back AIDS. The WHO, World Health Organization, posts an international number of over 170 million people with the virus. And the virus continues to mutate; Hepatitis G and Hepatitis J has been documented.
**This posted five-plus million CDC number does not include veterans who have served their country; neither does this number include individuals in the military, prisons, homeless populations or individuals outside U.S.A. borders. Currently, the CDC does not include their numbers with published information.
Together we will advocate and assist veterans and families to become educated about Hepatitis C with LeighAnn Vogel's assistance and expertise. www.geocities.com/hepvet/
A donation will also be shared for each 'CATapult' CD purchase with The National Breast Cancer Organization, www.nationalbreastcancer.org.
My brother wrote "The Panama Story" to assist individuals, veterans -- and their families -- to learn about Hepatitis C. Kevin combined facts, when and how this Hepatitis virus appeared in 1942, with fast-paced fiction to 'keep' the reader interested: "The Panama Story"
I am still humbled and wonder at the marvel of how Kevin wrote one chapter a night after his diagnosis with Hepatitis C. People waited each night for the next chapter in 1998. I remember multiple instances when veterans were going to commit suicide, alone, with this unexplained, little-understood diagnosis.
They phoned my brother's home; they e-mailed Kevin, sometimes asking for help, sometimes just asking him to record their world.
Kevin's story, night after night, assisted many veterans to 'stay'. Since 1998, I continue to hear how thousands of people, veterans, spouses, children, parents and grandparents have been assisted around the world by Kevin's story, free on the Internet: The Panama Story
This website, www.geocities.com/hepvet/ was designed by my brother after his terminal, advanced Hep C diagnosis with the assistance of LeighAnn Vogel. Kevin selected all postings and specifically selected the website background wallpaper to assist veterans with debilitating vision problems, yet another of Hep C's side effects. Captain Kevin even insisted LeighAnn hand-type the U.S. Constitution and display it on this 'Veterans Helping Veterans' website.
* This was one determined, focused young man -- who did not want to go -- and worked very hard to prevent others from walking his path, resulting from military vaccinations.
"The Panama Story" began as a short story, sent to a handful of people. It was photocopied and left in veterans' clinics and doctors' offices by people who wanted and needed to know what was happening within their world and the world of their family.
Captain Kevin Donnelly's "free" story can be found at the website he worked to create for veterans and their families: The Panama Story
(Red background with yellow print was selected by members within the Hepatitis C community. Red reflects 'blood' and yellow reflects 'liver', both affected with each diagnosis of Hep C.)
A personal update: My brother died with Hepatitis C, 8/5/00. Captain Kevin Drue Donnelly was a veteran, international researcher, passionate advocate and friend to many.
May 2003, I flew to Washington, D.C. accepting the invitation to speak at Freedom Plaza during "Hepatitis C's Movement For Awareness, 2003, International Hep C Rally" and to eulogize my brother.
After Kevin's death, I paused, listened, documented; then I leaned into the wind. I choose to be known simply as "Kevin's Sister." I continue to softly share: "This is what the face of a sister looks like. And we hurt, too."
My goal is to share the facts, the truth of Hepatitis, so others will become educated and learn from our path -- when little was spoken or shared about Hepatitis. People should not be ashamed to live with the virus and consequences, which may include multiple illnesses, side affects and depression. Individuals and family members should also question the medical care and to seek treatment. Educated individuals are better patients. Ask questions. Seek answers. Listen, and then ask additional questions.
When one member of a family has this virus, many are affected. I've met family members, adult and children, who introduced themself to me, "Hi, I'm co-infected."
We can prevent the spread of this virus sharing facts. We can reach out to help veterans, patients and family members sharing information. We must share to alter the course of this virus.
This path I never chose prior to my brother's death continues, as I have been approached by multiple film and TV producers to share the 'truth' and the 'facts', which I recorded after Kevin's diagnosis, December 23, 1997, during and after his research, and after his death, August 5, 2000.
One could not invent the facts and untruths involving the origin of Kevin's disease, his research, and his attempts to share his international message.
My family was stunned, once again, almost six years to the date of Kevin's Hep C diagnosis resulting from military vaccinations in Germany.
December 16, 2003, we learned my dad, also a veteran, was diagnosed with Hep C, resulting from hospital blood transfusions. A woman phoned from the doctor's office and shared his diagnosis on the telephone, then asked him to come in for experimental treatment the next day.
We asked hard questions and learned that in dad's situation, the treatment the doctor was requesting would have compromised my father's immune system. (We were aghast.) He declined the request for experimental treatment that day -- because we knew to ask questions and we knew related 'true' facts. Two out of five members in my family have been infected with this virus, which currently has no cure.
I bow my head, asking for prayers as my family prepares for my dad's battle. 12/20/3
Now I softly share: "This is the face of a sister and a daughter ..." You do know people with Hep C. Far too many still live in fear and shame, not speaking up about what is called 'the silent killer'. Get tested. Talk about Hep C with your children and family.
Just as a mother teaches a child to look both ways before crossing the road, we can teach, we can share, we must.
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