[Amysue1112]

Just wanted to update you guys on our referral....she checked out great with the IA doc except she tested positive for Hep C antibodies, (but has not tested since May 05 when she was 2 months old). We are HOPING and PRAYING that they will re-test her and she will be negative.
For those of you that don't know about Hep. C. When a b mom has Hep C, the child will test positive for Hep C antibodies. This does not mean the child has it. In fact, there is only a 5% chance of the child actually getting the disease. Usually the antibodies go out of the system by 18 months of age.
However, if the child DOES in fact contract the disease, it can be life-limiting....there is only a 25-33% chance of being able to treat it, and the child is at high risk for cirrhosis of the liver and cancer of the liver. UGH.
So we wait, and pray that they will re-test this child. And that she is negative. THere is still a concern as to WHERE b mom got Hep. C. LIkely from IV drug use....which of course brings up other concerns. BUt this child is developing wonderfully, and otherwise appears very healthy.
By the way, all this info came from our IA doctor...yesterday.....on our referral's first birthday.

I will keep you up to date!!

My back is still healing, SLOWLY....still having the same kind of pain, which is not uncommon. My doc says this is a "slow healing process".....
Thank you so much for the prayers!!
Amy

t kn

[Ktates]

Hey Amy-
I'm not sure if I sent them to you but I have a whole bunch of Hep c links if you want them.

I also wanted to add - unless you have other info - I wouldn't necessarily make the assumption that she contracted Hep via iv drug use - that would certainly be a more likely assumption here but don't forget many of these children are unwanted pregnancies meaning unprotected sex - that is just my personal opinion.

I will keep this little one in my prayers that the retest turns out to be negative...It can take up to 18 months for them to clear.

also - if you search nawlinsmom posts - her child if I remember has Hep C and she has posted quite a bit of information.
Hang in there
Karen

[Butabzig]

A shadow of hope. Our little Ana's b mom was Hep C +, along with other things. There's not a thing wrong with Ana except that the seasonal allergies are doing their number on her and she made need tubes down the road. Same thing my bio daughter had.

So, hang in there and prayers are that she will be just fine.
Jamie

[jroc]

Amy - thanks for the little tidbit on Hep C. I wasn't aware of that. I hope this little baby tests negative again. Let us know how everything turns out for you.

[bdaddy]

Great news Amy, i will say a prayer for you.


Hopefully you wil hear good news very soon!

-Bdaddys other half

[thmc1215]

Praying you get good "negative" news on your little referral soon!!

I can't believe what spirit you have right now, having gone through your surgery, receiving your referral, and everything! Praying your pain is eased very soon, that you heal well, and that we'll be hearing wonderful travel news from you!

Take care!

[emjay]

Praying for a negative for you! Danny also had the antibodies when he was born. We requested that he be tested before we travelled and all was negative - even the antibodies were gone by 11 months old.

As for wondering about the birth mother - you will never know for sure why she had the virus. As ktates said, though, it's not always drug use. And if the child is healthy and developing normally, she sounds like a great referral.

Glad to hear your back is healing, even though it's slow. Hang in there.

[Missourimomtobe]

There is a new antigen test you can use that tests whether the baby actually has the disease now, not just the antibodies. We had our daughter tested at 3 months with both tests; she showed positive on the antibodies but negative on the antigen test. We retested at 10 months just to be sure with the antigen test and she was again negative.

Ask your doctor to perform that test instead; it gave us great peace of mind since it is nearly 100% accurate.

[votemom]

glad to see you post again. please post on the waiters site - we miss you.

[cathvash]

Prayers for a "negative" on the Hep C... The odds are in your favor!!!

[NancyZ]

Amy,

FIY, the treatment for Hep C is not just 25% successful but more along the lines of 65-75% successful (I'm one of the lucky 75%). And the odds are getting better all the time (as little as 10 years ago the treatment was only 25% successful). Also, even if one does contract (and keep) Hep C, the odds are that only 20% of those people will actually develop enough liver problems to ever develop cirrohsis and all the problems that can cause.

Also, as others have said, while the mother MAY have contracted the virus through drug use, that doesn't mean that she defnitely did...or that she was taking drugs during her preganancy. Hep C is transmitted just like HIV...unprotected sex with an infected partner where there is a "blood swap", blood transfusions, and drug users who share needles are the primary causes. And some are just always unexplained.

The long and the short of it is that the odds of your baby actually still having an active viral load are low...and even if the baby is really positive, it's certainly not the end of the world. God works miracles all the time!

Congrats!

Nancy

[Kama]

I agree with Nancy. The treatment for hep C is getting better every year, but I do not know how babies I treated. The treatment is still pretty harsh for adults. As far as transmission, true, drugs are not necessarily the reason, but also transmission through sex is not very likely (something like 5%). I also hope that these are questions that you will not need to deal with and the baby is healthy after all. Best wishes,