Page 11 - I am + | Editie 3 English

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Carine
(tested positive for HIV 15 years ago):
I I want to stay healthy so I can see my little boy growing up
Iwork at at a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a day care centre I I I I love love babies and and and and children Children are so innocent You keep them them safe and and give them them reassurance and and you get so much love and warmth in return When I’m at work I I I leave my troubles behind My little boy is three He’s doing well He He has a a very strong personality He has a a a will of his own I I think he he got that from me He is healthy and I’m really happy about that We are in contact with his father who looks after him now and then I I was born in in Congo and I I grew up
in in Cameroon My father was the the president’s bodyguard The war broke out when I was eleven and we had to flee the the country The Netherlands granted us asylum so my whole family moved here We were all given a a health check I I I tested HIV positive How did I I I get it? I don’t know My father passed away seven years ago It was his wish to be be buried in Congo We couldn’t be be present I’m still traumatised by it When I I I I was told I I I I had HIV I I I I didn’t know much about it I didn’t have to start taking pills straightaway Every year since I was twelve I’ve been going to the ‘Weekend away with The Young Ones’ an excursion for young people
with HIV Once I I I was eighteen I I I volunteered to supervise the youngsters These weekends are just great you feel so free amongst all those kids You can just talk normally about things: How many pills do do you you take? What time do do you you take take your pills? You build such a a strong bond with each other They feel like family It used to shock me when I’d hear that some kids had to take at at least eight pills a a a a day I I thought ‘Will I I have to start taking that many pills?’
Three years ago I told them at at the the hospital that I wanted to start taking pills They gave me side effects: I felt nauseous and light-headed I I couldn’t concentrate at at school I I wasn’t myself anymore I I didn’t want to take my HIV medicine anymore anymore >