Tweety Bird

Hi, my name is Tweety Bird. I have 5 children, 3 by my first man and had a 4 year old and a 4 month old when my boyfriend got sick and ask me to go to the Doctor with him. At that time the Doctor asked if he had told me he was sick. And I asked sick from what. I didn't have a clue about the news I was about to be given. Finally he whispered he had HIV. I had no idea what HIV was and really didn't care. I was in love with this man and he was good to me and the kids. There was nothing he wouldn't do for us. He was the biggest hustler in Chicago. I wanted for nothing. I have been HIV infected for over 18 years.

Let's go back I had been infected and did not even know it. I had lost our son to HIV and still didn't understand HIV. People in our community were always saying Roy had AIDS and I had no idea what they were talking about. I knew he was an Intravenous drug user but that was no big deal. All the men in Chicago did drugs. And there was no way we were going to use condoms. This was my man and that was all that was important. I had been in a relationship with Roy for over 10 years and never felt there was a problem. From 1987 to 1996 I was in denial, I was in LOVE. Roy, nice and sweet I was the most important thing in the world to him. Life was good, I had gone to school and was about to become an Airline Stewardess, pretty as a peach and nothing was going to stop me now. I stayed in the relationship thinking he would soon give up the drugs, but that didn't happen. Things only got worse, he would do whatever it took to get more and more drugs. Hooked, he was and I didn't care I loved that man.

So, it got even worst, stealing, whatever he could get his hand on was stolen. Next step incarceration and then I got scared I was get sicker and sicker. My mom came and made me go to the Doctor's. Our daughter was about 6-8 months old at that time. Me living with HIV what am I suppose to do? I stayed sick with pneumonia, refusing to take medicine, refusing to think I was HIV positive. I was in and out of the hospital for about 6 months, started getting better. Then I started the street life. They were testing my daughter every three months, she stayed negative. Fourteen years later and she is HIV free, negative.

Then I met Tony, Tony the pimp, good looking and sharp. Every one said I would never get next to him. Tony introduced me to his girls and said they worked for him. I didn't care, Tony was now my man. We would and I don't know if I told Tony I was HIV positive. We would have unprotected sex and sure enough I got pregnant and the Doctor didn't ask if I wanted a HIV test or not even if he would have I probably would have said no. So this time I was not so lucky. I infected Tony and we had a HIV positive son. The hospital soon found out I was HIV positive and started my son on meds, it was to late my son is HIV positive, 10 years old. I then started going to UIC in Chicago for treatment and care when my mom mention a friend at the ODC that told her it was closer and could keep her from having to take me into Chicago every week.

I have been in and out of treatment mainly on me because the disease is so devastating, sometimes I just don't care. Then I go to group and I feel better, my case manager is the best. She is always on me to take my meds and eat right. My skin is terrible and it's all because I won't take my meds right. I am slowly after all doing what I am suppose to do. My so is just great the average 10 year old. He does know he is positive yet has a good spirit about it.
My memory is bad, bad skin and the good days and the bad. Tony still comes around to see me and his son. I am seeing a new guy and I have not told him about the Virus. Just waiting for the right time. No sex, just waiting and hoping for a cure.

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