No yoga tonight, because Husband is sick with whatever hideous virus Libby is recovering from, and the Girl (big one) was out celebrating with her boyfriend. Happy birthday Kevin!
So today was a rest day.
I have been neglecting the liver part of this blog. I have been thinking a lot about liver disease, though, and remembering all the feelings I went through when I found out about Libby's hep B status. From nonchalance, due to profound ignorance, to anger (at the agency, at the orphanage, at the state of the world in general), to trying to learn as much as I could about the illness, to trying to decide who to tell, and now . . . feeling I want to help Libby deal with her condition in as positive a way as possible-- part of that is accepting it, and taking the opportunity to educate others about hep B.
Because if I had known how prevalent Hepatitis B is in China, and in children adopted from China, Pierre and I would have gotten immunized before I went to China. (Julian and Kit were already immunized, as it is now a standard immunization.) The vaccine is given in series of three shots, and I had to wait till we got home to start them. I don't think wearing gloves while changing my new baby had any impact on our bonding, but I would have spared myself a lot of anxiety.
I've mentioned how helpful the American Liver Foundation's informational material, printed out by our travel physician, was to me. Once I got home, another incredible source was Dr. Jane Aronson. She's sort of famous now; apparently she's Angelina Jolie's pediatrician. But I was told she was an expert on adopted children with hep B. I emailed her, and got a comforting reply, with information on resources. Here is her website: www.orphandoctor.com Adoptive parents should check it out--Dr. Aronson has lots of information on all aspects of adoption.
Good night!
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