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The TODAY show this morning

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Posted 7/26/2011 3:25 PM (GMT 0)
Did any of you happen to catch Natalie Cole and Gregg Allman on the "Today Show" this morning with Kathy Lee?? They were there talking about their experience with Hep C and Gregg Allman has had a liver transplant. They have launched a website to promote awareness about Hep C and basically trying to get word out to the public and get away from the "label" or "stigma" that is usually associated with Hep C.

Just thought I would see if any of you caught it. I am sure it's on the website, too

Mer

Posted 7/26/2011 4:15 PM (GMT 0)
Mer,

I saw the interview. Too bad Gregg Allman was under the weather and did not speak a lot. Did hep C cause Natalie to have to have a kidney transplant or does she have Hep c in addition to her kidney disease?????
Posted 7/26/2011 5:21 PM (GMT 0)
Natalie Cole had a kidney transplant and does have Hep C. I know someone in a transplant forum who had the same things. They aren't related to one another.
Posted 7/26/2011 5:35 PM (GMT 0)
I didn't see the show, but know that Gregg Allman had his transplant at Mayo Jacksonville.  When I had my chemoembolization last week, one of the prep nurses mentioned that she was working on the transplant floor when he had it.  She also said he must be doing okay, as he hasn't been back in the hospital since then.

I saw an indepth interview of Natalie Cole some months ago on Tavis Smiley's show.  I believe the kidney disease was genetic.  Her sister died from kidney failure just as Natalie was undergoing liver transplant.  She does have hep C.  I can't remember if she has been treated for it since transplant.

It's good that high-profile people are calling attention to the disease and educating the public.

Hugs,

Connie

Posted 7/27/2011 1:21 AM (GMT 0)
I agree, I think it's great that high profile people are making people aware. It was evident that Gregg Allman was not feeling well today during the interview, but commend him for forging through. Natalie said she did undergo treatment pretty quickly after she was diagnosed, and Gregg mentioned he waited too long after diagnosis to start treatment and it was not effective for him, thus the liver transplant.

Connie, hope you are feeling better today!

Mer
Posted 7/27/2011 3:28 AM (GMT 0)

Thanks, Mer.  Doing better, but still dealing with a couple of things.

I did a bit of research on Natalie's story.  She was diagnosed with hep C in 2008.  She began treatment, which she calls "chemotherapy" in her book.  She also said she took it once a week.  Maybe she was just speaking of the injection part.  Supposedly, treatment put her into liver and kidney failure...or so I read.  She didn't really speak about this in the interview I saw, but I got the impression that the kidney failure was a separate event, though perhaps triggered by the failing liver.  So she got a double transplant.

Hugs,

Connie


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