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Almost two years ago, after months of chronic colds, flu, and sinusitis, 55 year old Debra Jordan went to the doctor for her annual physical. He ordered blood work which revealed that her liver enzymes were elevated. He astutely ordered a hepatitis C test which came back positive.

"I was floored when I was given the diagnosis," says Jordan who has a Masters in Health Sciences

and works as a counselor for people with HIV and AIDS as well as people

recovering from addictions. Living and working in Chicago, she had

attended numerous seminars and trainings which addressed hepatitis C in at-risk populations, but no one had ever given her a reason to hope...

Help ALF today and support

millions of other patients living

with liver disease.

Debra's primary care physician

referred her to a group practice where she met Dr. Goldman who

recognized Debra as a good candidate for hepatitis C treatment. Dr.

Goldman warned Debra that treatment would be demanding and would

require total commitment, compliance and a level of uncommon strength

and determination. She would be subject to severe side effects

including anxiety, depression, anemia, intense mood swings and hair loss.

Dr. Goldman notes that "Debra was a highly motivated patient. She did a

lot of reading and learned about treatment [so that] she was more

equipped to deal with the treatment and the side effects." The

treatment regimen included weekly shots of Interferon,

daily doses of Riboviran and Procrit by injection for 2 months to

address the consequent anemia. The treatment itself lasted 48 weeks

only to be followed by a 6 month waiting period before a blood test could reflect the desired outcome: a sustained virological response (SVR).*

On December 19th 2008, Debra's blood work came back from the lab. It showed SVR. Debra and Dr. Goldman consider this a cure.

During her struggle with the hepatitis C treatment, Debra was introduced to the American Liver Foundation

by Dr. Goldman's nurse, Hofmann. is the facilitator of an

ALF support group in the western suburbs of Chicago. When Debra began

her treatment, there were no support groups for patients in the

southern suburbs where she lived. With help from ALF Debra, and

Dr. Goldman started the first support group for patients with liver

disease in that community. The group has grown from 3 attendees at the

first meeting in September 2008 to 23 patients at the most recent

December gathering.

How did Debra Jordan contract hepatitis C? Over 16 years ago she struggled with drug addiction.

After a religious awakening, Debra got clean and put her life back on

track. She completed her Master's Degree and dedicated herself to

helping others avoid the same mistakes she made. In cases where this

isn't possible, Debra serves as an inspiration and proof that it is

never too late to change the course of your life. She acknowledges that

she contracted hepatitis C as a consequence of her own choices and this

is part of the message she intends to share with the larger world.

Within the next ten years, Debra envisions spending more time with her

many grandchildren and working full time with the American Liver

Foundation. She is "passionate about helping people" and intends to

further ALF's mission of research, education and advocacy. ALF cannot

carry out this vital mission with out your support.

The Love Your Liver Campaign is a

fundraising campaign that shares inspiring individual stories in order

to highlight the importance of the American Liver Foundation's work to

educate, raise awareness, and support research on liver disease. Thank

you for your support.

*For more information on the specifics of Debra's treatment, please contact us at info@...

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The shortest distance between a problem and a solution is the distance between your knees and the floor. The one who kneels to the Lord can stand up to anything