Johnny Robertson is a survivor of the 2008 North Carolina outbreak and serves as a member of the North Carolina One and Only Campaign workgroup.
Johnny Robertson believes in helping others, even those he doesn’t know, whenever he can. That’s why he donated blood at the local Red Cross blood drives for years. But an unsafe injection has put an end to this generous gesture. Read more
“I learned to live one day at a time, Barbara Burlingame writes in this poignant summary of her experience as an outbreak victim. She comments on the ongoing situation in Tulsa, and she encourages fellow patients to “please ask for help”.
The recent incident in Tulsa, in which as many as 7,000 dental patients may have been infected with bloodborne pathogens while receiving treatment from Dr. Scott Harrington, has brought a lot of thoughts and feelings back in to my life. Honestly some of these feelings have been buried deeply and it is a little painful to have them bubbling back to the surface, but it is also very therapeutic. I think daily of the people in Tulsa and the way that they have been blindsided by all of this information and these emotions. It is tough. Read more
Barbara Burlingame is a survivor of the 2000 Oklahoma outbreak, in which nearly 100 patients were infected with viral hepatitis through reuse of syringes at a pain clinic. Here is her story, in her own words.
I never thought this could happen to me. I never thought I—or anyone I know—would be infected with hepatitis C while
receiving healthcare.
Starting in March 2002, I was tired all the time. I felt lousy. I would come home from work for lunch and take a nap. I had to set an alarm, or I would fall asleep and sleep through the afternoon.
Read more
I applaud all who took part in the New Hampshire Hospital Association meeting September 22-24 which discussed ways to tighten up systems in an attempt to stop drug diversions which will ultimately help to prevent patient harm like the Hepatitis C outbreak which occurred in New Hampshire.
As a victim of a similar outbreak, I can attest to the fact that so often we just do not feel heard by the people who can make the most difference. Read more
