Vital Voices

Lou acquired hepatitis C through a medical operation in infancy. She postponed her treatment until 2017 after she had finished breastfeeding her two children. Overall, she characterises her treatment experience as ‘a bit of a non-event’ but ‘good’. vitalvoicesonhepc.org/stories/lous-s…

Laura was diagnosed with hepatitis C in the middle of 2020. While she recently learnt about the new treatment without the side effects that worry her, she is still waiting for the right time to start. vitalvoicesonhepc.org/stories/lauras…

Julia found out she had hepatitis C while pregnant with her first child. In 2017, she decided to seek treatment. For Julia, treatment was ‘simple’ and she was ‘really happy’ to receive the news that she had been cured of hepatitis C. vitalvoicesonhepc.org/stories/julias…

Mem was diagnosed with hepatitis C shortly after giving birth in 2006. She had treatment in 2019, and says that in the years prior she had several stigmatising encounters in healthcare settings such as hospitals. vitalvoicesonhepc.org/stories/mems-s…

Kylie was diagnosed with hepatitis C in the 1990s. Despite extremely high success rates for the new treatment, the first course didn’t cure it. She remembers that when the second course cured her of hepatitis C, she wanted to ‘shout from the rooftops’. vitalvoicesonhepc.org/stories/kylies…

Marty was diagnosed with non-A, non-B hepatitis in the late 1980s. Around 2014 Marty started to feel lethargic and, after having further tests, found out he had developed liver scarring and cirrhosis. Hear the rest of Marty's story: vitalvoicesonhepc.org/stories/martys…

Lee was diagnosed with hepatitis C in 2002 or 2003 and had treatment in 2014. He was cured of hepatitis C through this treatment, having continued playing and coaching AFL football throughout the treatment period. vitalvoicesonhepc.org/stories/lees-s…

James was first diagnosed with hepatitis C in around 2000 and had treatment after migrating to Australia in 2015. He no longer thinks about hepatitis C, saying that ‘It’s just one of the many things that have happened in my life’. vitalvoicesonhepc.org/stories/james-…

Heather was diagnosed with hepatitis C after her daughter was diagnosed with it through ‘a routine pregnancy screen’. In around 2014 she had the new medications and was cured. vitalvoicesonhepc.org/stories/heathe…

Harriet was diagnosed with hepatitis C in about 2012. Her experience with the new treatment was very positive, and since then she has encouraged ‘many people’ to have them. As she explains, ‘every single person has nothing to say but good things’. vitalvoicesonhepc.org/stories/harrie…

After her late husband was diagnosed with hepatitis C-related in the early 1990s, Gretchen was diagnosed with the virus too. vitalvoicesonhepc.org/stories/gretch…

In the early 1990s Gracie found out she had hepatitis C after her new partner asked her to get tested for it. She lived with the virus for some years before she participated in a clinical trial of the new treatment and was cured of hepatitis C. vitalvoicesonhepc.org/stories/gracie…

Giovanna was diagnosed with hepatitis C in the mid-1990s. Her liver health started to decline in 2012 and she then decided to try the treatment. One important outcome of having hepatitis C treatment was that it encouraged her to change careers. vitalvoicesonhepc.org/stories/giovan…

Evan has had hepatitis C for over 20 years. In the years he has had hepatitis C, Evan has focussed on other health issues, including mental health concerns. Since acquiring hepatitis C, he makes sure never to share injecting equipment with others. vitalvoicesonhepc.org/stories/evans-…

Dominic found out he had hepatitis C around 2002, when he was 18. Although he’d tried to start treatment a couple of times previously, obstacles such as lack of money and moving house meant he didn’t begin treatment until 2020. vitalvoicesonhepc.org/stories/domini…