Emma’s Story

English

Emma was adopted from China and moved to Canada, where she later discovered at age 12 that she had hepatitis B, likely contracted at birth. Her family was initially shocked and chose to keep her diagnosis private due to fear of stigma and discrimination. As she grew older, especially in university, she struggled with lifestyle limitations, disclosure in relationships, and uncertainty about trust. After transitioning to adult care, she learned her liver health had worsened and began treatment, which became a turning point in taking her condition seriously. Today, she stays on top of her care, shares her story to help others, and encourages people to get tested, stay monitored, and remain hopeful about future treatments and a cure.