COLLECTED STORIES FROM INTERNET

I am Ryan, and I am an amateur x-tuber. I started posting videos in 2011. People all over were starting to send me messages, sending requests, demanding to see more of what I could do. From then on, I was receiving invites for meet-ups, hook-ups, dates. At first I did not entertain it, because I was still happy doing it on my own.

But a member caught my attention and invited me out. It was February 2012, a few days before Valentine’s Day. We talked for a while, went to his place, and there it happened - my very first sex. It was bareback. I knew the facts and the risk of getting infected even just by doing it the first time. But I didn't take it seriously.

A few weeks later, I got sick, and was in the hospital for a week. At first I thought it was nothing serious, I was on a leave of absence for like 2 months so I could rest well and get back into shape. But when I got back to work, people noticed that I started to lose weight. I didn’t mind it, but then I started getting coughs and colds quite easily, which lasted for months. I was also experiencing night sweats, some swollen lymph nodes behind my ears and on my neck, as well as a prolonged fever. I knew something was wrong. Then I started reading all over the internet about common signs and symptoms of HIV. Still praying that I didn’t have it.

My doctor suggested I go for voluntary counselling and testing for HIV. I met my counsellor who conducted the pre- and post-test counselling for me. We waited for two weeks to get the confirmatory result. While resting at home, I got a call from her and she told me that they had gotten the results.

We talked for a while before opening the letter. She handed it to me, and still I was praying, even though I already knew the result. As expected, the result was positive. I felt numbness all over my body – then I started crying. I thought it was the end, I felt so much devastation. The councillor called my mom and gave us time to talk. I handed the results to my mom, seeing my mom crying while reading the result, it tore me apart.

I was in a state of melancholia for couple of days. My condition got worse. I suffered mitral valve prolapse and pneumonia. I thought my days were already over. I sought help and started treatment.

After a few months, I was recovering little by little. I was able to go back to work, and now I can say that I’m getting better. A friend once told me: "You learned your lesson, the hardest way! But I’m happy that you're coping."

I don’t take what happened to me negatively, it won’t do me any good for my health. But moving forward, I’ve learned to love myself more. I’ve learned who my true friends are, and most especially, I’m happy with the love and support that I’m getting from my friends and fellow people living with HIV. There is always a life after an HIV-positive diagnosis.

Don't forget what happened to you in your past, cherish it, and learn from it. Do not regret what happened. It may not be easy. I know, but for all we know this will always serve as a reminder to live our life to the fullest.

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But what' s our role in helping to decrease the number of HIV cases in the world? We all have a role to play by following the strategies to reduce the risk of HIV infection, which include abstaining from premarital sex, limiting your number of sexual partners if you indulge in sexual activity, never sharing contaminated needles, and proper use of condoms. Chief most, having regular blood checks can help one take charge of their status.

We live in a completely independent world, which simply means we can not escape each other. How we respond to AIDS depends ,in part, on wether we understand this independence. It is not someone else’s problem. This is everybody’s problem!Let’s keep acknowledging the existence of HIV/AIDS and the related implications. Let's fight against HIV/AIDS infection, stigma and discrimination. Let’s say no to AIDS.

Together, we can !