His ankles are swollen from fluid build-up, and he takes 13 pills a day to fight rejection and water retention. Because of thin blood, he's always cold and typically wears a sweatshirt and jacket at home, even though the thermostat is set at 80. His new liver doesn't rid him of hepatitis C, but he could survive for years before the disease threatens his life again. For now, Myers dreams of walking Shirley's daughter, Kelly, down the aisle on her wedding day on May 26. Often splattered by blood Firefighters typically can't pinpoint the day they were infected with hepatitis C because they're splattered with blood so often during medical and rescue calls that it's virtually impossible to know when or even if they were infected.
Infected blood can easily seep through the eyes, nose or mouth, or through a small cut.
The disease can also be transmitted when IV drug users share needles. Before routine blood screening in 1992, many people were infected through tainted transfusions. It is rarely transmitted sexually. Mary Kohler has no doubt she got sick on the job. Kohler came to symbolize the plight of infected firefighters and paramedics when she camped outside Mayor Street's office for 14 days last December with Stabinski.