HEALTH AND HEALING WITH DARNELLA ALLEN & PATRICE GAINES

ABOUT DARNELLA ALLENIn 2002 while living in Hawaii, Darnella Allen was diagnosed with Hepatitis C.  She had moved there to care for her nine year old granddaughter while her daughter was in Afghanistan. Darnella reports that this became a wilderness experience. During this time her faith and her relationship with God reached an intensity that she had never experienced. She became involved in advocating for a cure for Hepatitis C She found the only Hepatitis C support group on the island, a. She was led to the top Hepatitis specialist on the island, even though she had no insurance. As a result of her illness, a passion to educate and advocate was birthed.  After returning to the mainland, Darnella Allen founded  LEAPS; Liver Education Advocacy & Prevention Services.  Tonight Darnella will educate us about Hepatitis C, its signs, symptoms, progression and treatment. ABOUT PATRCE GAINESPatrice Gaines is a motivational speaker, author, journalist and co-founder of The Brown Angel Center, a program in Charlotte, NC that runs workshops for women in the Charlotte Jail.  She is also a spiritual life coach dedicated to helping others transform their lives and understand they are able to do so. Her autobiography Laughing in the Dark details her journey from life as a heroin user and abused woman to become an award-winning journalist and good mother. She is also author of Moments of Grace, which outlines her path to change. Ms. Gaines uses her personal story and training to encourage others through speeches, writings and workshops. Patrice’s goal is to use language—whether written or spoken—to heal, uplift and encourage. That doesn’t mean she isn’t funny as heck sometimes. She believes laughter makes the pain, the challenges—and the years—go by much more quickly.