The Ten Commandments For Hepatitis Survival

1. Thou shalt regard the word "Hepatitis" as just that: a word. Nothing more, nothing less, for its meaning has changed mightily over the years as have such dreaded words as Smallpox and Polio, once such dreaded ailments, now nearly non-existent as maladies. Remain hopeful, as the cure shall come to those who shall be present to bear it. Be present when it comes.

2. Thou shalt respect and love thy Inteferon and thy other treatments, even as thyself, for they are thy friends and champions. Although they exact a toll for their endeavors, thy are oft more generous in the favors they bestow.

3. Thou shalt participate fully in thy recovery. Thou shalt learn all the details of thy ailment, thy diagnosis, thy prognosis, its treatments, conventional and alternate. Thou shalt discuss them openly and candidly with thy hepatologist and shalt question all thou does not comprehend.Then, thou shalt cooperate intelligently and knowledgebly with thy doctor.

4. Thou shalt regard thy ailment as a temporary detour in thy life and shalt continue to plan thy future. Thy shall never, at any time, give up hope. Thy shalt set long-terms goals for thyself, for thou will recover and in thou believing so will contribute mightily to thy recovery.

5. Thou shalt express thy feelings candidly and openly to thy loved ones for they, too, are stricken. Thou shalt comfort and reassure them for they, too, need comforting and reassurance, even as thou doest.

6. Thou shalt be a comfort to thy fellow sufferers, providing knowledge, encouragement, understanding and love. Thou shalt give them hope when there may be little, for only in hope lies their salvation. And by doing so, thou providest comfort for thyself, as well.

7. Thou shalt never relinquish hope, no matter how thou may feelest at that moment, for thou knowest at the deepest recesses of thy heart, that thou discouragement is fleeting and that a better day awaits thee.

8. Thou shalt not regard thy ailment as the sum total of thyself or thy life but as merely a part of it. Fill your life with other diversions, be they mundane, daring, altruistic or merely amusing. To fill your life with your ailment is to surrender to it.

9. Thou shalt maintain, in all times and nearly every circumstance thy sense of humor, for laughter lightens thy heart and hastens thy recovery. This is not an easy task, sometimes seemingly impossible, but it is a goal well worth the endeavor.

10. Thou shalt have enduring and unassailable faith, whether thy faith be in a Supreme Being, in Medical Science, in Thy Future, in Thyself, or in Whatever. Steadfastly sustain thy faith for it shall sustain thee.

Edited from The Ten Commandments For Cancer Survival:
by Paul H. Klein

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