Living with Prostate and Liver Issues

I am 54 with a B.A. in Urban Studies and Politics from St. Anselm College in New Hampshire. They were some of the best times in my life. My family is medical and legal. My father was an Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Surgeon. He fought and was a Doc on WWII and Korean.
My dream was to become an Optician and work with my father. He passed of Cancer in 1974 while I was at college.
I did become an Optician and was V.P. of a 5 store chain. My interest in Politics brought me close to Congressman Silvio Conte in Ma. This is when my life changed. There was a Viet Nam vet always hanging around. I got to know him a bit. I (employed) some neighborhood minority kids after there school. I would pay them $1.00 to take the trash,sweep the street,etc. It worked because they stayed off the streets and never got in trouble with drugs.
This Vet hated minorities and vowed to get me. All the Police knew him and thought he was harmless. He was not. He was a cold hearted mercenary. Fast forward, he shot me in my upper thighs after a long fight. After HR. emergency surgery I stayed in the Hospital for 2 months. He was jailed and the D.A. was waiting for me.
The sad part is that I received several bags of untested blood. This was in April 1982. I was unaware of this until I took out over $100,000.00 in life insurance. I was married now. The insurance co. denied me and did not give me a reason. I waited a year and did it again. Denied. My brother the Doc had me send the results and paperwork to him. He found that there was something going on with my liver. He thought it may be Hepatitis C and there was a Doc he heard about at Mass General Boston that developed the blood test for this.
After seeing a local Doc he refereed me to Mass General. How lucky I was to get this Doc, Dr. Jules Deinstagg. He concluded I had Hep C and asked me if I would be interested in joining his first study group. There were only 50 patients and it was very strict. I did. He used us for the study and once a month went to Congress to report his findings to the Food and Drug Committee. I was so lucky to be the first to do Interferon and other experimental drugs. Nothing could be done for me. I had to live with this as Chronic.
In the past 6 years I have developed ENLARGED PROSTATE AND OTHER PROSTATE ISSUES NEW TO ME, Sugar, Serosis of Liver,Kidney problems, and a host of other health issues. I am now Chronic ACTIVE HEP C. My protate issues are very complex. I have to study and see the Doc as much as Possible to learn.
I am enrolled at U.Mass Medical Liver Studies in Worcester Mass. I have rare blood and am #1 on the list. I take about 35 pills a day. It is very hard to walk because of my circulation problems in my legs. I have encephalopathy that comes and goes.
I went to private schools and played sports all my life. I was an All-Star soccer goalie and excelled in Basketball. I worked out all the time until I was about 32. I think I was in great shape,5'10 180lbs. I was always the fist to cross the line. I am lucky today if I walk 500ft. with no assistance.
Operations and procedures? I have had them all at least once.
It is very hard to stay upbeat. I was never depressed but today I get anxious, depressed and worry about my family and loved ones when they see me on a bad day. What helps? Lots of prayers, support groups and an intimate relationship with a friend that went through with a transplant and is now waiting for a kidney. My girlfriend knows how lucky I am to have this man in my life. He now calls me his best friend ever.
I am now a LACDII(drug and alcohol counselor) in a Prison. I have been on leave for 2 years.
I wonder if anyone else has a story about depression, love and courage? Good Luck to you all.
B.C.