This year I was especially excited to be going to the B Informed Patient Conference because it was the first time an entire afternoon would be devoted to issues facing parents of children with hepatitis B. While HBV the disease is the same for children and adults, the treatment, social and emotional issues are very different for children and their parents.

Without a doubt the highlight of the parent session was Dr. Maureen Jonas! She provided basic (and not so basic) information about our children’s disease and the things to expect and look for as they and their virus matures. You could see the faces of parents relax as the complexities of the disease became easier to understand and, therefore, less frightening. After 10 years as a mom and HBV advocate, I had several aha moments listening to Dr. Jonas.

The question and answer period after Dr. Jonas’s talk was just incredible – one of the best pediatric liver specialists was answering all of our questions! Many parents were relieved to hear that their children were fine and that it was appropriate to simply wait and watch. Others learned what questions to ask their own children’s doctors about possible treatments and clinical trials. If I had gone home right then, the trip would have been more than worth it, but of course, there was more to come.

Each morning our breakfasts became impromptu gatherings for parents to share their children’s issues with other parents. That is a large part of what this conference is about – making friends, helping friends. We are able to reach out and ask for help or offer advice to each other. It lifted our spirits to be able to openly share our experiences, fears, and hopes.

Although HBV does not define our children, it is part of who they are. I believe that for every challenge we are faced with, some good always comes of it. For me, there are the many friendships that started over seven years ago in one of the most unlikely places. Next year I think I’ll add an extra day to my trip to spend more time with my new friends.

Barbara “Bambi” Winkler is list owner of the 800-plus member HBV Adoption Group, an online international support network for parents of children with HBV @ http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/hbv-adoption/.