My Passion in Life
Posted: Wednesday, July 13, 2011
by Jessie I Snyder
TRUE INSPIRATIONS
Passion is a distinct characteristic that everyone has the opportunity to experience. Speaking on the matter of passion, I have come to realize that I have a very important passion. My passion is writing about my personal stories of survival with AIDS. I contracted HIV in 1987 at the young age of 14, while I was pregnant with my one and only daughter, Deondra Mae. I had to have surgery when I was five months pregnant. During the surgery I lost too much blood and had to be given two pints of blood. The next month I found out that one of the pints of blood I was given was contaminated with the HIV virus. I was told I probably wouldn’t live to see my 18thbirthday. The doctors also tried to talk me into having an abortion. However, since I was already in my sixth month of pregnancy and had started feeling my baby kicking, I refused. I put my faith in God that whatever happened was meant to be.
When my baby was born I passed HIV on to her threw birth. The doctors told me that my daughter probably wouldn’t live to see her second birthday. However, my daughter was a fighter, just like her mother. By the time my daughter turned four years old her disease had progressed into full-blown AIDS. But even then she did NOT give up. She continued to fight until the day she died. Then on January 26, 2000 my daughter lost her battle with AIDS. Now as I tell my stories I commemorate a moment of silence to her life. I continue to tell and write my stories so as to help others battle the disease of AIDS. Not only do I write my stories but I go to different high schools, colleges and churches as a first person speaker.
My only mission and hope is to save one life at a time from ever contracting HIV or AIDS. Therefore, if you ask me what is my passion in life? I would gladly tell you that it is telling my stories of survival of living with AIDS. At the age of 21 my disease also progressed into full-blown AIDS, however, I didn’t let that break my spirits. I continue to fight this disease with a positive attitude. Now today I am 38 years old and I have been living with HIV for 24 years and full-blown AIDS for 17 years. My disease is now in remission and my CD4 counts are 649 the highest they have ever been, my viral load is undetectable and I continue to fight with a positive outlook on life.
If I may give one piece of advice it would be to fight this disease head-on, keep a positive attitude, and believe in your higher power. Because AIDS doesn’t have to be a death sentence, there is life after an AIDS diagnosis. To anyone who is not positive I would have to say PLEASE protect yourself, because you can still catch AIDS, but only through blood, sexual fluids, or breast milk. You CANNOT catch AIDS from kissing, shaking hands or hugging someone that is infected. Get educated and help put a stop to the disease of AIDS. Thank you for allowing me to share my story if you have any questions please feel free to email me, and I will answer any question no matter how personal they may be.
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)I have just come upon this site and to read your article first has inspired me. You are obviously a courageous woman and your story bought me to tears as I cannot imagine loosing a child. However, you are obviously strong and a fighter, I wish you all the very best life can give you.Thank you for your comment. I really appreciate the support. Losing a child is the hardest thing I ever had to face in life; however, she was and still is my inspiration and strength. I have a strong faith in God and know as long as I believe in him I can endure anything that life throws my way.
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