I felt it was important to share this again since World AIDS Day is around the corner on December 1, 2010. I originally posted this on my Myspace Blog.
Originally Posted on December 9, 2007
December 12, 2005 I received a phone call that forever changed my life. If you have read any of my other blogs you probably already know that was the day I found out I have HIV. I am very healthy and plan on staying that for a very long time. I am very fortunate to have such a loving family and friends. My family knows and I don't keep my status that close of secret anymore. I feel I should tell people about my experience so they don't make the same mistakes that I did.
It saddens me every time I hear of someone else testing positive because this is such a horrible disease and I don't want anyone to go thru it. Lets face it I don't want this disease and I certainly don't want others to have it either. People are so judgmental and ignorant when it comes to HIV. Battling the disease itself it getting easier and easier thanks to advances in medication and treatment, however battling the social aspects of it are not getting much easier.
I hope that in writing these blogs that maybe next time everyone will take a few extra seconds to protect themselves and that everyone will take an hour out there busy schedules to go get tested. There are no good excuses for not getting tested. Everyone should go every 6 months to get tested regardless. There are free test available pretty much everywhere and if they aren't free they have really cheap tests available.
Get out there and get tested. Talk about it before you have sex. Don't be stupid because our decisions truly do affect us for the rest of our lives.
I wish there was more I could do and I plan on finding on more ways to make a difference. So now I am asking you to make a difference. Bring it out in the open and talk about it. By ignoring it you are not keeping yourself save you are putting yourself at a higher risk.
I can't not thank you all my friends and family for their love and support and I appreciate everything they all do for me.
If you are reading this and are positive and you still haven't found your support system I encourage you to find one and find one fast. But then again you always have me.
***This one was posted on December 30, 2006
It saddens me every time I hear of someone else testing positive because this is such a horrible disease and I don't want anyone to go thru it. Lets face it I don't want this disease and I certainly don't want others to have it either. People are so judgmental and ignorant when it comes to HIV. Battling the disease itself it getting easier and easier thanks to advances in medication and treatment, however battling the social aspects of it are not getting much easier.
I hope that in writing these blogs that maybe next time everyone will take a few extra seconds to protect themselves and that everyone will take an hour out there busy schedules to go get tested. There are no good excuses for not getting tested. Everyone should go every 6 months to get tested regardless. There are free test available pretty much everywhere and if they aren't free they have really cheap tests available.
Get out there and get tested. Talk about it before you have sex. Don't be stupid because our decisions truly do affect us for the rest of our lives.
I wish there was more I could do and I plan on finding on more ways to make a difference. So now I am asking you to make a difference. Bring it out in the open and talk about it. By ignoring it you are not keeping yourself save you are putting yourself at a higher risk.
I can't not thank you all my friends and family for their love and support and I appreciate everything they all do for me.
If you are reading this and are positive and you still haven't found your support system I encourage you to find one and find one fast. But then again you always have me.
***This one was posted on December 30, 2006
I have decided to enter 2007 with no more secrets. In December 2005 I was diagnosed as being HIV Positive. Many of you already know this, most heard it thru the grape vine and some are reading it for the first time. I am sorry that I was not to tell each and everyone of you but please do not take it personal that I have not told you personally. I attempted to keep in to very few people until I was able to tell my family and know they know so I will tell everyone. It has become too exhausting and emotionally taxing having this conversation on an individual basis. I am not telling everyone this for your sympathy, rather I am telling everyone so people can learn from my mistakes. I am very healthy and plan on staying that way for a long time to come. With simple lifestyle changes it is easy to stay healthy and off of any medication. I had to give up drinking but those of you who know me know I am not a very big drinker so that was not difficult and my workouts have become even more important to my health. I just need to give up crap food now. :) If you have any questions about HIV feel free to ask and I will answer them the best I can or if you want to pass on any information to help me then please do that as well.
Now that this is out in the open we don't have to pretend that no one knows anymore and we can about our conversations without dancing around the subject. If you are not sure how to bring it up to me just say "I know" that will work just fine but please don't pretend like its not there cause it is and it is not going anywhere.
I love you all and wish you the very best in the New Year. Go get tested, there are a million free places to get tested. Take a friend, take a lover, take a CareBear just go get tested and do it every 3 to 6 months.
Now that this is out in the open we don't have to pretend that no one knows anymore and we can about our conversations without dancing around the subject. If you are not sure how to bring it up to me just say "I know" that will work just fine but please don't pretend like its not there cause it is and it is not going anywhere.
I love you all and wish you the very best in the New Year. Go get tested, there are a million free places to get tested. Take a friend, take a lover, take a CareBear just go get tested and do it every 3 to 6 months.
