Woman wins 'lonely battle' with infectious disease

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Woman wins 'lonely battle' with infectious disease

By Harry Jr.

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

09/24/2009

Barron learned a lesson from her life-and-death battle with hepatitis C:

that accepting a helping hand is as valuable as giving one.

Before the illness, she prided herself in her self-sufficient, heartland spirit

of not asking for help.

" I was private and prideful, " she said. " I found that wasn't very healthy. "

The lesson began shortly after Barron was infected in June 2003 with hepatitis C

through a medical accident

Six months after exposure, symptoms broke out.

" It was the flu times 100, " she said. The drugs were just as debilitating.

Worse, they didn't work.

She hid her illness because hepatitis C is sometimes stereotyped as a disease of

misbehavior, especially drug abuse.

But infections can stem from anything that exposes someone to someone else's

blood.

According to the National Institutes of Health, the hepatitis C infection rate

is four times higher than HIV disease.

Many people don't know they're infected. Untreated, the disease can cause liver

cancer.

FEAR AND AVERSION

Barron took a year off from work and spent most of her time in bed. " My husband

was virtually a single parent to our twin daughters, " she said. " He did

everything. "

Still, she continued to hide, expecting ridicule.

" It was a lonely battle, because I was fearful of rejection by my friends. "

She shared her plight with fewer than 10 people.

Then, a friend said, " Do you think the people you associate with would treat you

that way? "

She began discussing her plight, and friends rushed to her rescue. Church

members, neighbors and friends pitched in with house cleaning, child care,

shopping, meals.

" I didn't understand how wonderful people were until I found my neighbor coming

by and washing our clothes for us, " said Barron's husband, Cory Barron.

A friend introduced her to a website called " CaringBridge.org, " best described

as a Facebook for people with devastating illnesses.

Barron joined, explained her illness and wrote a weekly, sometimes daily, diary.

That brought help from people she'd never met.

" A woman wrote she wanted to know about me so she could pray for me, " she said.

Another stranger helped her win coverage from her health insurance company.

Rather than feel ashamed, she said, she felt better.

MIRACLE DOCTOR

The Rev. Hartmann, a pastoral care counselor at St. Louis University

Hospital, while not connected with Barron, said her story isn't uncommon.

" Many people come from (life-threatening) challenges changed, " Hartmann said.

" Accepting help can be as redemptive as giving help. "

Barron's health began to improve after she discussed her illness with Dr. Damon

Clines, a gastroenterologist and hepatologist whose son attended Promise

Christian Academy in Chesterfield, where Barron is an occupational therapist.

Clines said her zeal impressed him. " She had a lot to live for and she wasn't

ready to throw in the towel, so we gave it another shot, " he said.

In April, 14 months after beginning treatment, there's no sign of the virus and

no symptoms, Clines said. Barron is back to full speed and recently hosted a

party for about 200 people who helped during her ordeal.

" I fought because I don't want anyone else married to my husband, " she said. " I

wanted (my daughters) to know that I fought hard to be their mom. "

[Guest guest]

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/lifestyle/stories.nsf/healthfitness/story/0550F\

C0BC5816E9E8625763A0072D6B6?OpenDocument

Woman wins 'lonely battle' with infectious disease

By Harry Jr.

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

09/24/2009

Barron learned a lesson from her life-and-death battle with hepatitis C:

that accepting a helping hand is as valuable as giving one.

Before the illness, she prided herself in her self-sufficient, heartland spirit

of not asking for help.

" I was private and prideful, " she said. " I found that wasn't very healthy. "

The lesson began shortly after Barron was infected in June 2003 with hepatitis C

through a medical accident

Six months after exposure, symptoms broke out.

" It was the flu times 100, " she said. The drugs were just as debilitating.

Worse, they didn't work.

She hid her illness because hepatitis C is sometimes stereotyped as a disease of

misbehavior, especially drug abuse.

But infections can stem from anything that exposes someone to someone else's

blood.

According to the National Institutes of Health, the hepatitis C infection rate

is four times higher than HIV disease.

Many people don't know they're infected. Untreated, the disease can cause liver

cancer.

FEAR AND AVERSION

Barron took a year off from work and spent most of her time in bed. " My husband

was virtually a single parent to our twin daughters, " she said. " He did

everything. "

Still, she continued to hide, expecting ridicule.

" It was a lonely battle, because I was fearful of rejection by my friends. "

She shared her plight with fewer than 10 people.

Then, a friend said, " Do you think the people you associate with would treat you

that way? "

She began discussing her plight, and friends rushed to her rescue. Church

members, neighbors and friends pitched in with house cleaning, child care,

shopping, meals.

" I didn't understand how wonderful people were until I found my neighbor coming

by and washing our clothes for us, " said Barron's husband, Cory Barron.

A friend introduced her to a website called " CaringBridge.org, " best described

as a Facebook for people with devastating illnesses.

Barron joined, explained her illness and wrote a weekly, sometimes daily, diary.

That brought help from people she'd never met.

" A woman wrote she wanted to know about me so she could pray for me, " she said.

Another stranger helped her win coverage from her health insurance company.

Rather than feel ashamed, she said, she felt better.

MIRACLE DOCTOR

The Rev. Hartmann, a pastoral care counselor at St. Louis University

Hospital, while not connected with Barron, said her story isn't uncommon.

" Many people come from (life-threatening) challenges changed, " Hartmann said.

" Accepting help can be as redemptive as giving help. "

Barron's health began to improve after she discussed her illness with Dr. Damon

Clines, a gastroenterologist and hepatologist whose son attended Promise

Christian Academy in Chesterfield, where Barron is an occupational therapist.

Clines said her zeal impressed him. " She had a lot to live for and she wasn't

ready to throw in the towel, so we gave it another shot, " he said.

In April, 14 months after beginning treatment, there's no sign of the virus and

no symptoms, Clines said. Barron is back to full speed and recently hosted a

party for about 200 people who helped during her ordeal.

" I fought because I don't want anyone else married to my husband, " she said. " I

wanted (my daughters) to know that I fought hard to be their mom. "