Today, October 13, 2010 I once again celebrate my seventh year finding out that I am HIV-positive and empowering myself to know my HIV status. Later today, I will celebrate with a small cupcake or muffin as a dear friend of mine started four or five years ago. She bought me a cupcake and we celebrated from then I made a commitment that each year I make it to this day that I would celebrate it. Today is an important day to reflect upon for me. It’s a day I’m proud of, it’s a day I’m not so proud of but it is a day I’ll never forget. I’ll never forget how one phone from my doctor became a wakeup call and how it not only changed my life but also changed the lives of so many people around me.
Today I begin to think about my next phase of my life. Although I’m undetectable and my CD4 level is in the 600’s (just so no one worries lol) I’m challenged today by a small bout of Pneumonia. I’ve been in bed the last few days resting and with the rest I’m feeling better. I’ve also been challenged this month with a notification that I’m being laid off from my full-time job. Given this surprise, I’ve begun to look for work and think about my next step in my life, the things I want to do and how I might prepare for this transition.
In today’s world, many are being laid off but I think about others like me who rely on lifesaving HIV/AIDS medications. I think about what options are available to me to continue to get my meds during this transition and I think about all those who are on waiting lists and not able to get life saving HIV/AIDS medications they need. In a country such as the United States I am distressed that we continue to have folks on waiting lists for these life saving medications. It’s absurd.
As many of you know I’ve been planning on making an announcement this evening at 9PM EST. Given the events of this week and being sick, I’m still planning on making the announcement live on Who’s Positive’s website at http://www.whospositive.org/live My announcement may not have as much energy and not everything is set up for launch on our site, but it’s important to me to make the announcement and to celebrate my seventh year of empowering myself to know my status and continue to encourage others to know their status.
I hope you’ll join me tonight at 9PM EST at http://www.whospositive.org It would be my honor for you to help celebrate this day with me. About a month ago I recorded a message about tonight’s announcement, it’s been placed on our home page of Who’s Positive.
Finally on this seventh anniversary, I want to take a moment to thank all of you including my family, friends, and our partners who have supported me and the organizations endeavors over the last seven years. We have impacted thousands touched millions with our message through outlets like our website and empowered hundreds to be tested across the country. I could not have done this without you.
Follow Who’s Positive on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/whospositive
I look forward to you joining us tonight for our announcement.
In this fight together,
Tom Donohue
Founding Director, Who’s Positive
XML Feeds
