It is the fifth anniversary of living with AIDS. I wrote about my personal experience of having AIDS marking my four year anniversary of living with this so called dreadful disease last April. Well, it is now five years and counting and despite my medical downfalls I've adapted to making this journey a little less depressing and a little more humorous. I liken myself to Morris, the cat with 9 lives. Or considering my age, Old Man River, since I just keep rolling along.
I find it humorous that my doctor continues to insist on other medical testing for me. I mean seriously, does she think she can stop having AIDS? However, as much as she persists I continue to tell her if its not broken, don't fix it.
Admittedly, the last five years have been interesting. I still marvel at the misinformation of the AIDS disease. After all these years the ignorance is no less prevalent. People continue to ask me if I still have AIDS. My come back is always the same, "Oh no I got rid of that! It was awful! I hope I never get that again!
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I will never forget the time a nurse told me there's a cure for AIDS. She insisted that Magic Johnson was cured. I could understand that this could have been misunderstood by a lay person on the street, but a nurse? Wow!
One would think that in 2013 the fears might have subsided. Unfortunately, this is not so. A couple of years ago I fell while chasing my dog. I ended up in the emergency with cuts on my face and a torn ligament. After finding out I have AIDS the nurse handed me a band-aid to put on myself because she was afraid to touch me. That self applied band-aid cost me $150.
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Another one of my favorites is when someone asks me how I contracted AIDS. Needless to say I can come up with a host of humorous answers. The conversation then turns into a disease competition. "I can top that, one guy said to me. I shake my head and realize that he was trying to relate and make me feel better. But really.....
Laughter has been my greatest medicine in my five years as a AIDS survivor. Despite my bouts with a variety of illnesses its been laughter that's kept me going. Had I not been able to laugh about this I could have been gone a long time ago. Life is what you make it. AIDS is a serious disease but I know that I have a choice in the way that I respond to it and that choice affects my mind and body and those around me. Finding the humour in something changes the chemistry in your body and mind, it can heal you and in turn heal others.
My message in this blog is to face all your trials and tributlations with laughter. Even when we are dealt a bad hand of cards its always best you put all your trust and faith in God. For the longest time I begged God to take me, but its apparent he has a plan for me to be an example of his mercy. Even in the mist of my darkest days I know a 100 good days await me. Take one day at a time. I am at peace with God and when he's ready I will be too.
