Tom Donohue's Journal

Well, today was a good day. I found out that my CD4 was 600+ and viral load undectable. Great news! BUT... I found out that I have Latent Tuberculosis. Its an inactive form of Tuberculosis.
Many people who have latent tuberculosis never develop active TB. However, some people who have latent TB infection are more likely to develop active TB than others. These people are at high risk for active tuberculosis. They include:

•People with HIV infection - great! Thats Me! lol... it doesn't sound so bad, but its a little scary that it could turn into TB anytime. My doctors don't seem too concerned but they say we can deal with it at my next apt. Just that if I start to cough that I should let them know right away. Nothing like having that on your mind huh?

If anyone know any info or has thoughts feel free to let me know.

Goodnight.

Tom

PS, I emailed my mom to tell her, maybe she'll reach out to me. We'll see.

Dear friends and colleagues.

My subject is a bit misleading, but I need you to help me take action.

As you may know, I recently joined the Board of Directors for the Charlottesville AIDS Services Group. This is exciting for me as I continue to stay in touch with my passion of HIV/AIDS in addition to the work I continue to do with Who’s Positive.

Today, I’m asking you to consider a donation in any amount to support my AIDS Walk which unfortunately was rescheduled from last year to March 27th due to weather. I love this ‘community’ I’m passionate for the needs of this community and I’m now asking for your help. A small donation is fine, anything will help this community and my desire to help out the organization.

To donate:
You can donate through our website at www.asgva.org. –
Click “Donate to ASG” and then Donor Town Square.
Once you put in your donation amount and click “Continue your Donation” Donor Town Square will ask for your contact information and provide you with a box to write any notes about the donation.

Thank you for your many years of support while I struggled learning about my contracting HIV and encouraging me over the last 6 years, but now, I ask you to help me again by donating a few dollars and continue to show that support to me and the HIV/AIDS community.

Thank you so much for considering.

Tom Donohue
Founding Director, Who’s Positive
BOD, AIDS Services Group

Hey everyone,

I can't promise that it will be exciting, but I can promise that I will be there for everyone on Valentines Day - Sunday, Feb 14th at 9PM EST. Just go to http://www.whospositive.org/live and I will meet you there - in person and LIVE - its part of our Positive Life series with Who's Positive. We can just chat or support each other, it will be fun and unscripted.

No agenda, but just a time and place where we can meet and chat and talk. I'll see you at 9pm, on Sunday, Feb 14th - Our Valentines Day. See you there!

Tom Donohue

I thought I would repost this interview with my mom and I about being positive. Its a must watch interview. Let me know what you think.

Become a fan of Tom Donohue on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/nbirchfield#/pages/Tom-Donohue/12256382291?ref=ts

10 YEARS

01/20/2010

10 years ago, I lost someone I love – I mean really love. As I look back I realize how much my life has changed.

For those who know me real – real well. You know I travel with a teddy bear. I call her Leslie, after her original owner Leslie DeGarmo. I last saw Leslie in December of 1999. I can still close my eyes and see her leaning up against the wall Christmas Day. It would be the last day I was to see her alive. Just weeks before, we were driving on our way to the mall, and well… I said to her, “you know If I knew you’d say yes, I’d ask you to marry me”. I remember it clear as day because even though there was a joking undertone, there was a lot of truth to it.

I fell completely in love with her. She was my best friend, I’ve never used the word love as strongly as I do when I refer to her. Her smile, laugh – the things she use to say and the way she use to say it. I can still hear her voice, I see her eyes, I feel her around me. Every time I go to her grave, I feel the wind against my back as if she’s pushing me to leave and telling me to live my life, but I touch her stone, trace out her name with my fingers and close my eyes to see her, to hear her and wish she was still here.

So, today, I’ll take Leslie with me to work, I’ll buckle her up so she’s safe in the car and spend another day wondering the what if’s but realizing that my little Angel is never far from my thoughts, always on my mind and forever in my heart.

Leslie, today I miss you more than ever – it’s been 10 years and many things have happened in my life, but just know, you’ll always be my first love, I can never forget the moments we’ve shared – I am often lost without you, I love you so much, and miss you so much. I think about your accident, I think about the pain you must have had, I truly do not understand why you had to go through it, just know you will always be loved, you’ll always be missed and you’ll always be with me.