-Baha'u'llah
One of the most curious aspects of taking Interferon and Ribavirin therapy are the vivid dreams that many people experience. On many nights these dreams are so real feeling that they leave me laying awake trying to make sense of them. I have always tried to ignore my dreams as I find them too confusing to think about...conscious living is perplexing enough without trying to comprehend the time I spend sleeping! Some of my recent dreams have been particularly confusing with scenes such as me sledding in deep snow down hilly streets of San Francisco. In other dreams friends who have passed away over the last couple decades have visited me. In one fabulous dream I was dancing to the Grateful Dead....Jerry was still alive and singing like the old days! One dream stands out from all the rest in that it seemed to provide me with a plan to go forward from where I currently stand.
About two weeks ago I awoke and told Lauretta that I had a dream that I had ridden my bicycle from our home to my doctor's office so that I could tell them "thank you" for the kindness and encouragement that they have given to me as I progress through treatment. I filed the dream under "nice ideas" thinking that I needed to make sure to say "thank you", but dismissing the other part. But this dream is persistent and has forced its way back into my dreams again and now it has entered the world of full consciousness.
One of the most obvious signs that I was slowly growing sick was that the love that I once had for long-distance cycling gradually faded until I no longer rode my bike at all. I genuinely enjoyed the science of long-distance cycling as you try to strike that perfect balance between caloric intake and energy output...allowing you to ride as far as possible as long as the daylight lasts. Hepatitis C was gradually robbing me of the joys of my life and making some aspects more challenging, and I sat by confused and unaware as the virus continued to launch its assault on my body. The other day I awoke knowing that I needed to "re-file" my bicycle dream....from"nice idea" to "plan for recovery".I will take this ride...I have to. In order to be able to complete such a ride I need to begin training. Although I suspect that this may pose some challenges related to the long-term effects of interferon and Ribavirin, I know that is exactly what I need at this point in my recovery.
On September 14, 2010 I will cycle from Hemingway SC to Myrtle Beach SC so that I can thank my doctor and nurse and also so that I can officially begin my efforts to increase public awareness of the Hepatitis C epidemic. I would like to invite everyone to join me on my ride as I make my "dream" a "reality". Already there are a few of us planning to make the 70-mile trek. September 14th 2010 will be the first anniversary of the start of my medical treatment to kill the Hepatitis C virus within my body, and will be three weeks after I complete treatment. I started treatment hoping to merely be able to endure and cope with it....simply to live through it. Today I am resetting my goal. I intend to complete treatment in better shape than when I started. I believe that with your continued prayers and encouragement this will be possible. I have realized that my faith, friends and family are a source of strength that can carry me through this. Remember...Love is Strong!
Please consider joining us on September 14th as we have a great time and educate others about HCV.
Keeping the Faith....killing the virus!
With love and gratitude,
Rus
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