Did you ever stop to think how important words of hope are to someone who has just been diagnosed with Hepatitis C? In this; part two of my previous post, I'll tell you.
A beautiful young woman approached my booth and picked up a copy of my book: Breaking Free from Hepatitis C, A Personal Journey. As she turned it over to read the back cover, I asked her if she new of someone who was infected with the virus. She slowly lifted her head and with a scared and confused look on her face said "Yes, I was just diagnosed."
"Well, what are you gonna do about it" I asked in a positive tone.
"I don't know" she said, "I only have one person I can talk too, and that person says that there is nothing I can do and is always very negative about the whole situation."
"Stay away from them then" I said, "the last thing you need is to be around someone with a defeatist attitude. You need to get positive; positive that somehow, someway you are going to beat this thing. You need to get a Refuse to Loose / Failure is not an Option attitude!" I may have overstepped my bounds a little, buts that's how I feel.
Her eyes got wider as a smile came across her face. "That's the first time anyone has tried to give me a little hope since I've been diagnosed. All I've heard up till now is doom and gloom."
I could see a glimmer of hope in her eyes, so I continued with an example that I often use. "Take two people with the same life threatening disease" I said, "now, imagine the first entering a medical center and saying I'm here because they sent me here. Now imagine the second one, entering the same medical center and saying I'm here to beat this disease. Which one do think gets the better response during their treatments?" I asked.
Her smile got wider, "exactly" I said. "Any Health Professional will tell you that attitude makes all the difference; at least any open minded one."
As we concluded our conversation, I told her to call me anytime she needed a shot of positive attitude, and I hope she does. I also told her to weigh all the options, make up her own mind and stick too it. I said I would support any decision she made and told her not to let anybody ruin her attitude and most importantly, NEVER GIVE UP!
Friday, November 20, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
The Little Girl
Did you ever meet someone, or have an experience that you just couldn't forget? I had two such experiences this past weekend while exhibiting my book at the Miami Book Fair International. Everyone who visited the booth impacted me significantly, but these two in particular really sent home a message that we all can learn from. Here is the first, I will post the second in the days to come.
The first is about a young girl who I believe was approximately ten or eleven years old. That's right, I said ten or eleven years old! I was sitting behind the table where I had displayed several of my books; "Breaking Free from Hepatitis C, A Personal Journey". I looked up to see a young girl reading the title of the book as she paused, while passing by. As I watched her; her lips moved as she read the title while her eyes opened wide with hope. Looking me straight in the eyes she said;
"I have Hepatitis C"
"You Do?" I questioned
"Yes" she said.
I didn't know what to say, honestly, I was shocked. She was the first child I had ever met who was infected with the virus. All of the experiences of being diagnosed and treated came rushing back as I wondered what she was going through and how she and her family were dealing with her diagnosis.
About that time; the adult who was accompanying the little girl who I believe may have been her mother, said "C'mon, lets go". The little girl smiled at me as she dropped her head in disappointment; followed the adults instructions, and walked away. I felt my eyes fill with tears as I sat back in my chair in disbelief.
About fifteen minutes later, while I was speaking to a man about his brothers diagnosis; I was interrupted by my friend who was sharing the booth with me. She said that this person had to leave and wanted to get a copy of the book before she left. As I looked towards where my friend was pointing, there stood the young girl from fifteen minutes earlier. Once again I was shocked! That young girl had talked the adult who was accompanying her into returning to the booth so that she could purchase the book. She pulled crumpled dollar bills from her pocket with pride, and handed them to me. (In retrospect; I should have just given her the book, but I'm telling you......I couldn't think straight.) I smiled as I cleared the lump in my throat and handed her my personal contact information. I told her to call me anytime she wanted to talk; I pray she does.
The first is about a young girl who I believe was approximately ten or eleven years old. That's right, I said ten or eleven years old! I was sitting behind the table where I had displayed several of my books; "Breaking Free from Hepatitis C, A Personal Journey". I looked up to see a young girl reading the title of the book as she paused, while passing by. As I watched her; her lips moved as she read the title while her eyes opened wide with hope. Looking me straight in the eyes she said;
"I have Hepatitis C"
"You Do?" I questioned
"Yes" she said.
I didn't know what to say, honestly, I was shocked. She was the first child I had ever met who was infected with the virus. All of the experiences of being diagnosed and treated came rushing back as I wondered what she was going through and how she and her family were dealing with her diagnosis.
About that time; the adult who was accompanying the little girl who I believe may have been her mother, said "C'mon, lets go". The little girl smiled at me as she dropped her head in disappointment; followed the adults instructions, and walked away. I felt my eyes fill with tears as I sat back in my chair in disbelief.
About fifteen minutes later, while I was speaking to a man about his brothers diagnosis; I was interrupted by my friend who was sharing the booth with me. She said that this person had to leave and wanted to get a copy of the book before she left. As I looked towards where my friend was pointing, there stood the young girl from fifteen minutes earlier. Once again I was shocked! That young girl had talked the adult who was accompanying her into returning to the booth so that she could purchase the book. She pulled crumpled dollar bills from her pocket with pride, and handed them to me. (In retrospect; I should have just given her the book, but I'm telling you......I couldn't think straight.) I smiled as I cleared the lump in my throat and handed her my personal contact information. I told her to call me anytime she wanted to talk; I pray she does.
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