Ward

How has HIV/AIDS affected my life

I can't really say how it affected me in only one way but a myriad of ways. I can only give you a blur of how it has enriched and altered my present and future.

I'm just an average boy-next-door guy just entering my 16th year as a person w/HIV. As a veteran of the process, it started out with when to go on Med's. Within a year I decided to accept it, all the help and info I could get and to move on. AZT was my first option.

So this was my biggest fear the reality sets in. As a boy I watched my mom progress with breast cancer and watched as the pills mounted and her health failed. In 4 -5 years she had lost the battle. The early fall of 73'
Acceptance was a main focus, quality of life, care-giver, patient, and MD seminars, and someone to confide in. AZT, clinical trials, Tuskegee experiments in the news, Magic Johnson, meeting other's going with the several years of the same pressure of survival wondering if I can be as lucky.

What is HIV to me? Hidden Infectious Virus.
On the litter side, let's wrap it up. I remodeled my Life around the truth no one's guaranteed a free ride. Success comes in all forms, fortunes come and go; and there is always someone less fortunate then you. A cold hard fact I wish on nobody. But if we can improve so can the less fortunate. One door closes another opens.
HIV brought me a quality of people I never knew. From 12 yr's of private health care to the past few years of public health care, I have watched it go from a select progression to a generational disease to grand people.
Over the years I found time to spend quality time with family and people. Uniting the bonds of a family in pain and friends I cherish. I have maintained a good quality of life and I can I have been blessed with HIV and not cursed by fate. I know I been changed By HIV and I respect it as a part of life.

Sure, I get depressed. Duh! But remembering, I think of the job I had where I would climb to the roof of the buildings; each morning. Where I would have to reset the materials elevator; Up this creaky 60 year timber staircase wondering I had the nerve to make it to the top. As I rushed the last few steps and opened the door stepped on the roof hoping not to fall thru to the concrete floor or worse the machinery. I faced east and watched the sun rise over the trees and the gleam of the cross atop the church at least 8 blocks away then what ever direction I turned an saw a cross. I graced God and breathed a sigh of relief and with out a doubt a new day had begun. I made it and knew I could do this climb all day. I also had to climb into a concrete mixer at the end of the day to clean it. God I need this moment on the roof today.
Thank you for your time. Amen

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