Life With AIDS, At Years End

I am, once again, reminded that HIV/AIDS is still a very real, and deadly disease, in that I get the news that it has claimed another life of someone I have known for a number of years. Even after all these years, as I hear of another passing, it cause me to be ever mindful, of how far we have yet to go, in order to bring the disease under control, so, that others do not become infected, or, die, due to the virus, that scientists are working hard to eradicate. It is easy I suppose , to sometimes allow myself to think of the possibility of an AIDS free world, in that are so many hopeful advances being made in the fight against the epidemic. With that however, it does not take away the sadness of the news that another is lost to the disease. That, along with newly diagnosed people, who contact me, seeking advice on how to learn to accept and live with their new normal.  http://www.ez9articles.appspot.com/article/hiv-can-be-transmitted-through-blood

Afraid of others learning about their new diagnosis, trying to grasp the idea of what lies ahead for them, regarding treatment, and, of whether the can muster enough strength to make it through the next day, much less being able to see themselves decades down the road, and wanting to know how I have done it all these years, and especially to be able to talk openly about HIV/AIDS, like I do. Having recently marked another World AIDS Day, as a long term survivor, I, like so many others, think back on those we have lost. Many who lived and died, under the stress of never revealing their "secret", amid the ever changing landscape of HIV/AIDS, and the news story headlines, using words like "cure", and "manageable". To the newly diagnosed, at least the ones I have encountered, it is hard to embrace these headlines. And honestly, even for a long term dinosaur like me, when news of an AIDS related death comes my way. I fully understand there has to be hope for a better day, in any situation that causes us to question. With HIV/AIDS, even when the viral load is non detectable, and, when our overall health seems stable, the reality of of all that changing quickly, can, at times be a bit overwhelming. I am reminded of a letter I received nearly twenty years ago, from a friend, who was nearing the end of his earthly journey, after having lived with AIDS for a number of years, and the advice he offered to me. He wrote.. there will always be survivors, you must fight, and never give up hope.... http://www.myhotarticles.us/article/hepatitis-a-is-transmitted-from-the-feces-to-water-and-food

 Perhaps, I am allowing the news of my friends recent passing, to cause me to be a bit sentimental, and, as this year is nearing the end, I am being too reflective of the past months, of which I am still mourning the loss of my own Dad earlier this year, who lost his battle with Alzheimer's. This causes me a certain sadness during the holiday season, and therefore, I think about my own journey with AIDS. Hopefully, as a new year begins, I will "bounce back", to my cheery, positive self, and will have a renewed spirit of hope. I just need to remind myself of the advice I give to the newly diagnosed, and that is to hang in there, allow yourself the time you need to process, take care of yourself, and know you have strength to endure this time, and that is done by taking it a day at a time.http://www.euarticles.net/article/hepatitis-a-is-transmitted-from-the-feces-to-water-and-food