And now for something completely different.

Last October 2018, I was asked by the British Liver Trust if I would be interested in telling my liver story to the Readers Digest magazine. Such is my quest to raise awareness of Alcohol-related liver disease, I eagerly agreed.

Two months later I had a lovely telephone conversation with a famous freelance journalist, Ms Lina Zeldovich. This was a transatlantic call to New York and the interview lasted about an hour. I wasn't taking Lactulose back then so I really don't know where the verbal diarrhoea came from. Such was my need to getting as much across as possible, I really did go on a bit.

Anyway, for a while I didn't hear any more about it. In March of this year I received an email from the Readers Digest saying that the story was ready for publication and was scheduled to go to press in the June edition. On the 24th May the June edition was out and in circulation. I was going to reserve 10 copies for family and friends. But I just brought the one copy to try.

After reading through all 144-pages, there was no article to be found. After a few emails back and forth, I've finally got to the bottom of this saga.

It turns out that Ms Lina Zeldovich, had sold her story to the Readers Digest International. This is a different company to the Readers Digest UK.

The upshot of this is that the story won't be featured in the UK edition as they don't hold the copyright. It is however available in Finland, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium or Spain. I don't happen to speak or read any of these languages so getting my hands on an English printed edition is going to be hard. They have kindly let me have a PDF copy though. (I'll be email a copy across to the BLT soon).

At least there's going to be a load of Europeans who now know of my story and who now know what I look like. (I've just gone and opened up a PO box number to handle all the fan mail, just joking).

At least the British Liver Trust did manage to get a brief mention.

On wards and up wards.

[Yuiop]

Well done Richard, spread the word across the world... you certainly don’t do things by half!!!

[Ocala626]

Very well done! You do so much for so many!

[P13jne]

Fantastic Richard, the more information available for everyone, the better. I look forward to reading it if you manage to decipher it. X

[TT-2018]

Great work Richard, the message is the most important part.

[Beefeater]

Richard64: I’m one of your fans and would like to get a copy even in Spanish for now- so eager to read it. Thank you for sharing your story. Beefeater

[jojokarak]

Says it all when you mention fan mail

[Owlie]

Please can I have your autograph? 😉

[Hidden in reply to Owlie]

That was just a small joke, Owlie. But Thankyou.

[Hidden]

Hi

That's great, Richard. The who understand it the better. Take care Lynne

[Hidden]

Fantastic ! well done xx

[Bootandall]

Ah the vagaries of publishing. You do have a wonderful gift for story-telling Richard and a great sense of humor, so no surprise there. Congrats on getting the story out there!

Hey I contacted Oprah when I was diagnosed with Hep C, my thought was "this is something that could happen to anyone, not just famous porn stars or rock musicians" and l wanted to meet Steven Tyler of Aerosmith too, so maybe he could appear on the show with me? (I was living near Chicago at the time). Zero response, lol!😁

I look forward to reading more of your posts, no pressure!! 😛

[Grank in reply to Bootandall]

You write too well for Oprah. Thank you for making me laugh 😂

[Beefeater]

Richard64: if you don’t mind, please tell me where I could read your unedited story as you posted on this media. Your fan, Beefeater

[Hidden]

Richard,

So nice to hear that your story is out and about, even if not in English

I won't be able to read it either as I have 1 year of high school Spanish and 1 class of college French LOL.

Anyway, congratulations.

Mary

[AmericanDemocrat]

Oh, my goodness, Richard! At first glance I thought you were the cover story and that the photo was you! ... and that they were relating a transplant to ‘coming back from the dead!’ I just couldn’t understand why they were referring to you as a dog 🐕 ... I thought it might be a British cultural thing? In any case, marvelous news and I do hope you’ll post the English language PDF when it is available. Congrats!!

[Hidden in reply to AmericanDemocrat]

Nope, sorry to disappoint you. That's not me doing a "Crocodile Dundee" impression and that is not my Sheila between the legs that are not mine.

[Hidden]

Is that you on the front page Richard?

[AmericanDemocrat in reply to Hidden]

See, Richard, I'm not the only one who thought you were the cover star!

[Hidden in reply to AmericanDemocrat]

You've certainly made me smile, thank you.

[VanessaH]

Thank you so much for supporting the British Liver Trust

[Yellowsydney]

Hi Richard, British liver trust asked me to do an interview with the telegraph newspaper which appeared in February about NASH, through them I've also been filmed for a video which was apparently shown at the international liver congress in Austria last month. I'm keen to spread the word that not all liver disease is caused by alcohol. I'm sure you will find a translator 💚

Hilary

[Hidden in reply to Yellowsydney]

Well done Hilary, I really admire you for that. We have to not only get the message out there, but keep up the momentum, for fear of it becoming yesterday's news.

Keep up the good fight.

[Red50]

Hi Richard, what an accomplishment, your story is out there in the world do More people can understand this terrible disease, witch is not understood much , the symptoms etc. I would love to read the story but only able to in English. Well done once again for helping soo many others even on this site, big hugs Kalsoom 🤗

[Hidden]

Thank you for your support Richard.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Your most welcome, I have emailed both Vanessa and Natasha, with a copy of the article. They are both out, but should be back in next week.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Great

[Red50]

Hi Richard64 , i wonder if you know anything about inflammation levels, I have medically induced liver cirrhosis stage 2 and have been feeling awful 🙁 mu inflammation level is at 19 had the test twice. Doctors no help is this level normal please help 🙏🏼 as I think you are very knowledgable about these problems, thanks in advance 👍