We had yet another birthday party in the office. Once again, I was assigned plates, napkins and forks. I really do believe that my coworkers are afraid of the fact that I have HIV and do not want to eat any food I bring in. In fact, I have tried to bring a couple of things in the past, like brownies and a pumpkin pie, neither of which were touched by anyone but me. It's shocking to think that these college educated people are so ignorant about HIV that they are scared to eat anything I make!
One of the other girls in the office went through some serious health issues and I remember my boss approached me and advised me not to eat anything she brought in and to basically be careful around her. My boss had been advised of this by her mother, a hospital employee. At the time, I thought she was looking out for me as an HIV patient with a compromised immune system. I now look back and realize that I was wrong.
I am assuming she advised the other girls to also avoid any food that I bring in as well. I am just so shocked that people are scared to eat food I make! I just don't understand this. I'm very shocked, I'm very hurt and I feel like an outsider.
Wow we all have stories so powerful. A girl like me was a great one, and here I go...
In 1997 I was walking down the street in my first 8 months of clean and sober living. I was suddenly hit with a 2 X 4 and 5 other guys beating the pulp out of me. They dragged me behind a set of down town Charleston, SC building in the rich, historic battery district and predeeded to rape, beat and scream at me" ("B__ I am going to KILL you because some white B___ gave us AIDS!!!!!!!!). Well I was left for dead, in the middle of the dark by the time I awoke and taken to the ER. The police would not believe me because 8 months befor I had been their favorite crack, junkie, whore to pick on and bust. 4 months I stayed in a full body cast and begged my family to help me understand. They would not come near me. Well years passed by and still at the crack and booze because I just did not think I could live anyother way and live. Finally I got busted and sent to prison for a year where I was told I had HIV. I knew for a few years I had it, I just thought it would go away.
While I was hunting for my inner soul I met some girls who had been sent to prison via Charleston County Drug Court and the main counselor Ricky Dennis. I knew right then that that would be the man that God would work through to get to the heart of the matter. What was wrong with me? After I got out I went and found him, and was immediatly placed into Drug Court. It was on now! This man was a christian pitt bull and cut me not one bit of slack. All in all over a year time period I was introduced to mental health, to my family and to my daughter who I thought I would never see again. Now I am graduating from college at East Carolina University at the top 7% of my class, I have a wonderful relationship with my daughter who now is 13 and I have become a real live Softball Mom!!. 9 years clean and sober and I am so greatful to all the women in the USA I have been inspired by and whonm I get to inspire. I work as a counselor and a health education specialist in a community health clinic in rural NC and I am married to a professional HIV negative beautiful man. I hope someday I get to the white house through all the national affiliations I stive to bond with as a Positive Woman. Until then i am so greatful that HBO has taken my life story and is writing a book and a recovery movie to help others. We all have such remarkable stories.