Life with HIV

A Woman With HIV Shares Her Story “I refuse to say that I am at the doorsteps of death,” said *Sharon Davis (name has been changed in this article to protect her identity) a 50-year-old East Coast native, who now resides in Seattle. Davis is a spunky woman with a ton of personality. Words like this are not unusual for her as Davis is a woman who prides herself on being a positive individual with a positive outlook on life. You see Davis is a woman who has become more enlightened. She’s become more enlightened because of her status. Not status referring to her income or position in society, but as it refers to her health status. Davis’ status, which she contends does not solely define her, is HIV positive. Davis, who has been living with the virus that causes AIDS for 18 years, acquired the disease as a by-product of her environment, an environment that included intravenous (IV) drug use. It was in this environment where Davis, who used intravenous drugs for a number of years, began to see people she knew becoming infected with HIV. During this time, very little was known about the disease and Davis, like many Americans, was uneducated about HIV and AIDS and didn’t fully understand the background of the disease that was infecting many of those around her. “It was an uneasy feeling at first, not knowing how you could contract the disease,” said Davis. “I thought if you touched someone you could catch it. But, I still kind of dismissed that because I was a loving person. I feel that everybody deserves to be loved no matter what kind of disease they have.” Davis saw more people become infected. It was then that she decided that she had to make a change in her life. She made the decision to stop her use of drugs for good. She later was tested for HIV and AIDS. “I was beginning to see friends of mine die. I stopped using drugs for six months before I got tested. And when I did go and get tested, it came back positive,” Davis said. Davis’ positive test result didn’t really sink in at first. Years went by after her diagnosis before she informed anyone of her status, including her family. “I told my aunt first and my first cousin second; and I told them two or three years after I had tested positive,” recalled Davis. She remembered choosing these individuals because they were close family members. As the third oldest of nine children, Davis understood her tight knit family, and knew that her aunt and cousin would accept her no matter what. “When I told my aunt it was just like I was having a normal conversation with her. I knew she didn’t care what I had, and that she would love me no matter what,” said Davis. But informing another member of her family didn’t go quite as well. “Telling my sister was a big mistake,” said Davis. “After I told her she felt as if she was in a position to tell whoever she wanted. I feel my status is on a need to know basis.” The outcome with her sister didn’t lower Davis’ spirit or tarnish her outlook on life. She accepts that she is HIV positive. “I don’t feel sorry for myself and I don’t have a problem accepting death. (Being diagnosed with HIV) made me understand the little things I took for granted,” stated Davis. Davis’ experience has led her to find solace in her spirituality. “I have become more enlightened (since being diagnosed) – more enlightened with a spiritual connection, and more enlightened to have a personal relationship with God. It makes it easier to accept the hand I was dealt,” she remarked. In addition to living a healthy spiritual life, Davis also lives a healthy physical life. She admits she didn’t start taking medication until ten years after her diagnosis. “I didn’t really see any major changes in my health. I was running seven and a half miles every other day for six years before I started taking medication. I ate no red meat or pork,” she said. Davis continues to live a healthy life physically despite now having to take medication. She currently eats chicken, turkey, and fish and utilizes eastern medicine as well as western medicine as part of her HIV treatment regimen. Acupuncture, massage, and Chinese herbs are part of her eastern/holistic approach. “The holistic approach-holistic just means so the mind can lead/help the body-compliments the western medicine. They work better together,” remarked Davis. Her western regimen includes taking two medications twice daily. One medication is a protease inhibitor and the other is an antiretroviral. Both medications keep the HIV virus from multiplying, thus helping keep the immune system healthy. The longer the immune system is healthy, the longer it takes for HIV to progress to the more dangerous AIDS. “You have to take these two medications. You can’t use one without the other. But, the amount and additional medication necessary is dependent on the severity of your condition,” stated Davis referring to the widely reported drug cocktail treatment for HIV. In the same breath that Davis discusses her condition and its treatment, she makes sure to caution others about putting themselves first, in terms of dealing with their partners and being careful to not put themselves at risk for contracting HIV and AIDS. “People are in denial. For every person like myself, there are 300 others who say that ‘if I am [HIV positive] then I don’t want to know,’ that continue to put society at risk. A lot of people have the order confused. It’s God first, then me, then you,” she continued. In the future Davis hopes the diseased is less stigmatized and not separated from any other disease just because it can be contracted through somewhat of a societal taboo, sexual intercourse, so a better understanding of the disease can be gained. “They put so much emphasis on it because it is attached to sex,” said Davis said. “I hope that people will want to be less afraid to be educated about the disease, to be able to deal with it and to be able to treat people who have it.” All in all, Davis feels she is a better person because of her experience. “Now that I’ve lived the experience, I’m more enlightened to love and care about people, no matter what walk of life people are living. Basically, I am less judgmental, and I don’t take things for granted as I used to,” she expressed. When asked if there is anything she would like to say or share with our reading audience about HIV and AIDS she responded, “Don’t be scared be safe. Don’t be afraid of knowing the truth, and don’t let fear rob you of the truth. Because we all know, the truth will set you free.”