Photo credits: Steven Williams
I grew up in Little Neck, New York. We didn?t have any houses or condos: it was your typical middle class, co-op blue collar community.? This was back in the seventies, and once the street lights hit the wet and glossy pavement after another rainy summer evening, it was time to come home and make the lengthy walk up the stairs into the building.
In the sixteen years of being diagnosed with HIV, I found myself careful when exposing what I refer to as my ?situation? to family and friends. I often regretted that I hadn?t ever discussed it with a majority of the people in my life.
The moment that sparked this harsh reality was at a family gathering. My four-year-old cousin (whose mother just happened to be a teacher) had been enjoying some ice cream and, as kids do, offered me some as well by sticking the spoon in my mouth. Within seconds of the spoon having been removed from my lips, his mother leaped over the table and ignorantly pulled the spoon from his hand as if she were protecting him from a hand grenade about to explode. In an instant the DNA within my family was against me and their ignorance was the definition of bliss.
This compounded an unnecessary defense mechanism, which I created to alienate those close to me.? As I slowly began to reveal my ?secret,? all I could feel was the sense of fear as I worried my dear friends would walk away from me.? I quickly realized that fear is nothing more than a lie and my friends are the true DNA which runs through my blood.
With a broken heart, I felt I would never be able to have children and (although admirable) adopting a child was the only choice that I had. After a period of four years, I found a partner who was eager to have a child herself.? We decided to have a child organically, without any fancy scientific procedures or exercises because neither of us could afford them. We felt deep within our hearts we would have the perfect kid.
Unfortunately, the relationship between myself and my ex went south, and we slowly began to drift apart. She began to develop a sense of paranoia and feared she would be taking a chance by contracting the virus if we continued to be intimate.? Her neurosis began to intensify to the point where she thought our child would be left without parents if she contracted the virus as well.? She soon evolved into this ball of emotional chaos making my life a living hell, since there was no longer intimacy, she told me if I wanted a relationship that the only way I would find one was to go outside the home and find someone new.
I must confess my heart was broken because I felt I was labeled as some kind of monster. I simply existed to provide the seed to create this wonderful and undeniably beautiful little girl. ?This beautiful little girl who is now my beautiful, wonderful world.
When she was born a myriad of tests were taken to ensure my daughter didn?t have HIV, as well as my ex.? Both are negative.
Needless to say, I?ve had a few ups and down over the course of the past 16 years, but my daughter is the reason why I get out of bed every day. I consistently think about what I can do to improve her life and be there whenever she needs me.
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Information and Resources from HIVE
As Treatment as Prevention (TasP) and PrEP become more well-known across the U.S., we are wondering how men who have sex with women are finding out about the possibilities for safer conception, what they think about it, and what barriers remain.
We love sharing stories about men living with HIV who are having, have had, or want to have children. Applause for clinics who are routinely offering PrEP to women, and clinics who are telling people living with HIV that TasP works.
We are on a journey, learning and growing together.?Looking for a platform for your voice? Interested in helping others by sharing your story? We can work with you if you prefer to be anonymous. No professional writing skills necessary. Contact caroline@HIVEonline.org
Check out the links below for resources around TasP and family building options.
We’ve Been Seeing if We Are Ready, Are There Any Risks Involved?
Pietro Vernazza: Safer Conception Options for Serodifferent Couples
Thank you for sharing your story. So brave and full of love.
I love knowing that you are out there, loving your little girl and living boldly.
Thank you for sharing your life with me, you can not know how much it means. I’m recently diagnosed so as I am very new to living with HIV I have two kids of my own so I know a thing or two about the baby mama drama.
Wow. What an awesome story… I am inspired.. Thank you.