Persons living with HIV say it is not a death sentence - 'Life goes on'
Published:Friday | November 30, 2018 | 12:00 AMNickoy Wilson/Gleaner Writer
When Jade Simpson* was diagnosed with HIV in 2010 while living in the United States, little did she know that on returning, she would face discrimination from her own family.
"A family friend bought me my own wash pan, my own brush, my own clothes pins, and she bought me an Igloo. I couldn't touch dem fridge," Simpson shared with The Gleaner yesterday, following the Jamaica Network of Seropositives (JN+) World AIDS Day Breakfast Forum at The Knutsford Court Hotel in St Andrew.
She said, however, that she does not resent her family members as neither they nor her, at that time, knew much about the virus.
Due in part to her denial and her dislike for taking medication, Simpson said she stopped taking the antiretroviral (ARV) drugs, which are used to suppress the virus. This led to her getting quite ill, and eventually, things took a turn for the worse.
"I was admitted to a public hospital, and then I really wanted to die. I gave up on life. I really gave up on life. Honestly, I really did give up on life. I just didn't want to live anymore," Simpson recalled.
But after words of encouragement from her doctor, she decided to give life a second chance.
"After the doctor that treated me came to my bedside and said, 'Ms. Simpson, you must take your medication. Do you want to die?' And I said, 'Yes, I want to die', he looked in my face and said, 'You don't want to die. Come! Go home and take your medication'," she recounted.
THINK ABOUT WHAT LIES AHEAD
Simpson told The Gleaner that although she had no moral support during those difficult times, she always got comfort by reading the Bible. Since then, Simpson has met individuals along the way who have now become an integral part of her support system.
Simpson, who is now a community facilitator for JN+, had words of encouragement for individuals who are still coming to terms with their positive HIV diagnosis.
"Life goes on. It's easier said than done, but life really goes on," she stressed.
Ann-Marie Falconer*, another person living with HIV, who was also at the forum, had similar words of encouragement.
"HIV is not a death sentence. There is life after being diagnosed with HIV. As long as you stick to your ARVs and just don't think about the whole thing and the fact that you're positive. Think about the life that lies ahead," Falconer said.
Falconer, who has two daughters, was diagnosed with HIV in 2007 and got married earlier this year. Her husband is HIV negative.
*Name changed on request.