ODC News Letter
May 2012 -
In This Issue: Life Expectancy Increases for North Americans Living with HIV, HIV Stigma and Awareness - Time to Change our Message, How Neuropathy is Currently Treated, CAC Bowling Outing, Lobby Days 2012, May Events.
Old News Letters...
Desmond
This is My LifeHow I became HIV positive. I met this guy he took me to his house. I didn't know he call some of his friends over. I was gang rape, also when I got pregnant with my oldest child I found out that I was HIV Positive. I was scared to death. I thought this never happen to me.
Boy I was wrong. I had lot of friends that die with AIDS or have HIV. When I was in Jr. High School we were never taught about AIDS and HIV. If I would have learned about it then I be helping people who have HIV and AIDS. I felt so bad about myself because I thought nobody was going to accept me. I never told my friends about me being HIV positive. I kept it all bottle up inside for so long. I prayed to God every night for a cure, but I have to live with it for the rest of my life. I have a great man. He is the best thing that ever happened to my kids and me. When I found out I had the virus, I thought I was going to die but that wasn't the case. When I was pregnant with my second child they had me on medications from the time I was 2 months to 9 months and when I gave birth to him. Both of my kids are HIV negative and I thank God for that. I stopped taking medications in January 25, 2001 because it was undetectable. I was so happy. It's been undetectable for 6 years. I thought about killing myself. I said why not I'm going to die anyway. I took a long hard look in the mirror and said to myself I can't die I have two kids I have to raise. Also they're going to be a cure for HIV and AIDS.
I believe in God will have a cure. When I found out that I was, I was HIV Positive. I was in denial for a whole 3 years after I had found out that I was HIV Positive I could not sleep or eat. I said to myself this could not be me every time I look at myself in the mirror. I cried and cried and was depressed started sitting in I seen a doctor. He put me on some medication called Zoloft. I never told anybody why I was so depressed all the time
1. I was HIV Positive
2. The life I was living that shows I got the virus
3. I had a every low self esteem
4. I thought I never find nobody to love me.
5. And I don't have Positive friends to except me being HIV Positive and not going behind my back talking about me.The reason why I had not been married because sacred to find a man that will except me I have never been married a long time ago but their a God bless me with a man that love me and understand me. I got wonderful family I have a great case manager that opened their doors and their heart to you. I think God for them I never had nobody to care so much about me in Elgin, Illinois. I can't get nowhere else when I first went to my first group I was sacred but I open up and started talking about my life was hard when I was growing up by me being HIV Positive I just kept to myself all the time. I had few friends I never told none of my friends that I was HIV Positive. I have been taking care of my self-eating good. I thank God everyday for my health and being here for my two kids and boyfriend.
I was so glad to get away from New Orleans for I can start going back to see the doctor. When I was in New Orleans I have not been to see my doctor in 2 Years before the Hurricane Katrina came to New Orleans and after that I stop going all together. I think God I move on with my life. I started going back to my doctor appointments I'm started caring about my self and health I think for Open Door Clinic for caring so much about people who is HIV Positive or who have AIDS. They need more people and Doctors who care about other people. When I first found out that I was HIV Positive I thought I had AIDS until I read about it in books and in magazine and ask people about it. Thank God for people like Open Door Clinics for opening their doors for people who have HIV and AIDS. Thanks from the bottom of my heart thanks a lot God Bless you all for being so nice to us keep the good work guys.
