"Prior to my Partner, M, being diagnosed
with Cryptococcal Meningitis and consequently HIV/AIDS last June, HIV/AIDS for
me was like some sort of dreaded disease that happened only to the unfortunate
few who were engaged in the sex trade or who frequented bath houses or had
multiple sex partners. I did not fit into any of those categoris, thus it
seemed so far away, something so unlikely and so impossible, something that
happened only to “others”. But that all changed in June 2012. Like many of the
email and letter senders of Pozziepinoy’s Blog, I too was caught offguard,
definitely in denial, frustrated, ignorant, lost and feeling hopeless. I
suppose it is a stage almost everyone goes through once diagnosed with HIV or
has someone close to them newly diagnosed. But after this initial shock comes
learning, recovery and finally acceptance.
This year, WORLD AIDS DAY 2012 will
defintiely be diffferent for me. December 1 used to be just my brother’s
birthday but now it will be a day of Thanksgiving, Prayer, Hope, and Support
for the millions of PLHIV. My partner and I have so much to be Thankful and
Hopeful for: Free ARV’s, great Doctors, our health (I am still negative and he
is stable), our family, friends, and most specially we still have each other
despite what we had gone through."
"A"
Partner of a PLHIV