Page 12 - I am + | Editie 3 English

Then I I got pregnant My son had to get HIV medi- cine with an oral syringe on a a a a a daily basis for the first month after he was born I stopped taking my own HIV medicine because the side effects made it impossible to look after him through the night When I told them at the the hospital two months later they weren’t very happy I said to the the nurse: I’m going to take them properly now She asks me every time: Are you you you managing your pills? Do you you you have any side effects?
I’m religious I I go to to church and am grateful to to our Heavenly Father for all the the blessings in in my life and especially for my health The bishop is is like a a a a a a father to to me I was talking to to him and all of a sudden I I I blurted out: I’m I’m sick I’m I’m not going to beat around the bush: I’m HIV positive He was shocked of course but he reacted well He was with me when I told my best friend She wanted to to know all about it and asked a a a a a lot of questions But it didn’t change anything between us: she still has dinner with me and spends the night at my place I I tell people close to me I I don’t care about the world outside I think it’s important that my family and and friends know and and I plan to tell my son when he’s a a bit older I don’t want people to feel sorry for me I I just live my life and I I don’t feel like I’m sick I I I only feel like a a a a patient when I I I have an appointment at the hospital The alarm on on my phone is set for 8 o’clock in the evening That’s when I I take my pills I’m happy to do that now I have a a a a big responsibility towards my little boy I I want want to be there for him I I want want to live a a a a long and healthy life so so I can see my son growing up That’s good enough for me As a a volunteer I talk to young people who find it difficult to take their medicine Their parents say ‘You shouldn’t take medicine God will heal you ’ ’ Then I I say ‘God has provided you with HIV medi- cation ’ I think we should be thankful for that If I I I don’t take my pills I I I feel like there’s some- thing wrong with me Once I didn’t go to the pharmacy until after all my pills were gone I wasn’t able to get the the medicine from the the phar- macy until the next day I thought that was awful My blood test results are always good They monitor everything Viral load and CD4 count? That means nothing to me me Everything is just fine I’m really thankful for that Everything is just fine I’m really thankful for that Carine
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