AIDS
Living with HIV

Have you thought HIV happens only to other people? Pedro, Antigone, and Kerry tell how they felt, finding out they had HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

KERRY: The doctor was very nervous. "You tested positive for HIV," he said, finally. Not one time in my life did I ever expect those words.

ANTIGONE: This counselor asked if I had questions. I just wanted my results. I thought I knew everything about AIDS and HIV. "You're positive," she said. I'm what? I was completely shocked.

PEDRO: All these questions popped to mind: Am going to die? When? How will my father react? What about school? Do I have to tell? Are they going to throw me out? What about medications? How long do I have to live? I didn't want to deal with it.

ANTIGONE: My hopes and dreams ­ I still have them, but they're different. I don't look past age 30. I look at what I want to accomplish by next year.

KERRY: All my hopes were gone with those few words. I thought, No one is going to want to hang out, be my friend, touch me, hold my hand, hug or kiss me. I'll never have a boyfriend again, never marry, grow old, have children.

PEDRO: I thought I could make something big of my life. When I found out I was HIV positive, I had to change the way I viewed the world. I may not have 40, 50, or 60 years. I may have 5, 10, 15. What do I want to do? What does being successful mean to me?

With many medicines available, people with HIV live longer. But the drugs are expensive. And they aren't a cure. Some people take up to 50 pills daily. They must be taken at exactly the right time every day. It's a tough way to live.