Chelle's Story

As a child, Chelle grew up struggling with stomach problems that went undiagnosed. When she was 18, she learned she has hepatitis B after trying to donate to a military blood drive. Chelle faced isolation, stigma, and discrimination in her personal and professional life, including when the military moved her from the medical field to a supply career. More than three decades later, Chelle is back in the medical field, and all of her kids were successfully vaccinated against hepatitis B at birth. 

Discussion Questions and Answers:

How did stigma and lack of awareness affect Chelle’s early experiences with hepatitis B?
(Chelle was removed from her dream career in the military medical field and treated with extreme fear and isolation—like she was contagious through casual contact. This stigma, combined with being far from home and family, made her feel alone and misunderstood.)

How does Chelle’s story highlight the challenges of being diagnosed with hepatitis B at a young age and in a different era?
(She was only 18, newly enlisted, and living abroad. Testing wasn’t common when she was adopted from the Philippines, and her childhood symptoms were dismissed. At the time, little was known about hepatitis B, especially in military and healthcare settings.)

What changed over time that allowed Chelle to return to a medical career decades later?
(With better knowledge, updated policies, and reduced stigma around hepatitis B, Chelle was finally told by a professor that she could pursue her goal of becoming a provider. Her story shows how far awareness and inclusion have come—and how far they still need to go.)