Adoption has always been on Ben and I's hearts. We thought YES we
would like to adopt someday. During the Spring of 2010 I read an
article in a national publication about a woman who adopted a child from
Africa and the child was HIV positive. I read the article with great
interest. I didn't know anyone with HIV except my good friend Magic
Johnson of course. But what ever happened to him anyways, I thought?!?
So, after reading the article I thought "WoW- HIV treatment has come a
long WAY! How did I miss all this? I worked in healthcare and I had NO
clue! Why didn't I know it was such a manageable disease much like
diabetes?" We didn't need a "healthy child" like everyone in the world
prays for!! We just want to love a child who needs our love and I know
our Gospel values don't teach us that a child with HIV would be
unlovable or unadoptable! Ben and I talked and said you know WE could
do this! So the next 5 months I read, read, read and we prayed, prayed,
prayed!!! And this was the path God was leading us down. We signed on
with an adoption agency in October 2010 (AAI) that was the 1st US
agency to place children with HIV in Ethiopia and was placing them in
homes all the time now! I met wonderful families all over the country
that had positive children. We met with the knowledgable Pediatirc
Infectious Disease Team at University of Louisville that would provide
healthcare for our son or daughter. In December we received the file of
our amazing son, Abiti. WHY did we receive a referral so quickly after
we just signed on with our agency??? Why because children with HIV and
other special health care needs are waiting sometimes for years and
years on lists waiting to be adopted. Many are NEVER adopted! Yes Abiti
was positive but he was completely HEALTHY! And if you have met him
you know he is a VERY active and healthy boy!!!
So now
that Abiti has been home with us for 6 months, we felt it was very
important to help others understand what it means to have HIV and what
it doesn't mean.
THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT HIV/What it looks like for US:
HIV
can NOT be spread through casual/household contact. HIV is not spread
through hugging, kissing, shaking hands, sharing toys, sneezing,
coughing, sharing food, sharing drinks, bathing, swimming or any other
casual way. It has been proven that HIV can only be spread through
sexual contact, birth, breastfeeding and blood to blood contact through
sharing a needle. HIV has never been contracted in a home or a school!!!
HIV is considered a chronic but manageable disease. With treatment,
people who are HIV+ can live indefinitely without developing AIDS and
can live long and full lives. People who are HIV+ deserve to be treated
with love, respect, support and acceptance as all people do.
Abiti
takes 3 medicines every day/twice a day. He takes them like a pro!!!
Abiti will go to his Infectious Disease doctor/NP every 3 months to
have his blood counts checked. Very soon Abiti's virus will ACTUALLY be
UNDETECTABLE in his blood!! This doesn't mean he doesn't have the
virus it just means the levels are SO low they cannot be detected by a
blood test! This is HOW amazing the advance in medical treatment are.
We rarely think about Abiti's status at our house. The biggest issue
for us during the 1st 6 months regarding HIV was disclosure. We knew
once we told someone we couldn't untell them if they had a bad fear
reaction. So, being that we lived in a small town in the near south we
were just unsure if our entire community could handle it. Therefore we
only told our immediate family members and a few close friends. But,
for us keeping it a secret was just feeding the stigma. How would
others ever know the truth. How would anything every change if we
didn't speak up? HIV stigma is all about FEAR! It's because most of us
aren't exposed to anyone with the disease therefore we may not have any
knowledge about it. Most of us are living with a 1980's knowlege of the
disease!!! HOW could we allow that to continue?
So, this
is where we are today.....Ben and I want to spread TRUTH. We want to
educate and also encourage others to adopt children that are HIV +. We
want to support efforts across the world to eliminate HIV/AIDS. We
want to support families that are living with the virus, through making
sure medications are available to ALL and families are kept together
(unlike what happened to Abiti's 1st family b/c of the disease).
We
aren't looking to make Abiti a poster child. We won't be talking about
HIV around Abiti. His understanding of the disease is still very basic.
But, when there is an opportunity to educate, to speak UP, we will!
And
we are NOT looking for a pat on the back, "Wow good for you!" The
Wiederholt's have been blessed beyond measure with our son...there is no
greater reward than that! If you want to respond just let us know you
support Abiti and you will also spread the TRUTH!
We hope
that if you have any more questions you will email or message us.
Please don't allow lack of knowledge to cause fear. Abiti and so many
children and adults living with the disease throughout the world deserve
our acceptance and love.
Thank you for helping us Spread TRUTH.
Peace - Ben and Jess
http://www.projecthopeful.org/get-involved/truth-pandemic
If
you would like more information on transmission, there is additional
information on the Center for Disease Control website
at:http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources
Thanks for sharing this. It is hopeful!
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