You are Champions.. I'm following but competing

[John2038]

Hi,

As poz, we are all Champions.
We are having this disease, but we are there, finding reasons to be, to fight, to continue, to stay strong, to accept, to love, to like, to move, etc. And we are fighting, continuing, staying strong, accepting as much as we can, trying to love, like and move again.

These congratulations can only come from poz. I doubt neg will never understand what we do understand.

The more we fight, keep the head up, and continue no matter what happen, the more great we are.

We are not alone, and each of us is an inspiration for the others.
I was just willing to remind that. Because we are all fighting in our corner.
Most of us have no one to talk, and we must still look fine.

Most of you, especially the "veterans" are supporting others and are still here. Thanks to them.

I don't know why I am writing this today.
I just realize maybe that we are not only poz waiting for the next lab, but also very great people.

Others are suffering for others causes. We see it everyday on tv.
Today, only our will can make us happy again, having dreams again, being hopeful again.
And if we are still here, we are having part of this will, or much more will than average.

This is why we are great. And maybe the greatest of us are those who fight the most, despite anything.

Maybe can this thread relate how people fight, the reasons they have to fight and what they have achieved since they know their status.

We read daily bad news, not only HIV related, and good news or inspirational attitudes will maybe appear as  a big oxygen balloon to me.
And I (we) need that as well.
Thanks to share, and for everything you are doing !

John

[BT65]

Hmmmmmm, how I fight.  Well, I take my meds; if I ever have trouble with a government agency, I get ahold of someone in the government (lately, it's been Sen. Evan Bayh, and his office has always come through); I keep in touch with people who help me keep it real; I get down, but not like I used to-I try to remember there's always someone who has it worse (and there is always someone).

Reasons to fight, well......Because I'm not ready to die; my daughter, because if I quit fighting, it would crush her (she's been through hell with me); because my mum never let me give up on myself before; because there are others who need help.

What I've accomplished?  Well, having to go on disability.  I have, however, gone back to school in the previous two years and am almost done with my bachelor's degree; I've gotten off a slew of drugs (and booze), which were causing great distress in my life; I'm able to be present for others.

I really think questions like this require thought.  This is just stuff I could come up with off the top of my head.

[Bucko]

Maybe can this thread relate how people fight, the reasons they have to fight and what they have achieved since they know their status.

I fight by waking up every day and doing the best I can.

I fight because I'm not done yet,

Achieved?

• I turned an $800,000 store into a $3,000,000 store in three years;
  
• I've overcome a grave spinal injury;
  
  • I came back from a seven-hour stint with a 107 degree fever (during which I flatlined for the second time in my life);
    
  • I fulfilled a long-term goal of moving to the tropics, away from harsh New England winters;
    
    • I've rid myself of three toxic relationships (I have really shitty taste in beaux);
      
    • I've written many different things that are considered professional quality with no previous experience;
      I
      • n the last three years, both here and IRL, I've made real, durable relationships with people who have changed my life.

[AlanBama]

I have lots of reasons to keep fighting, but it never hurts to focus on my reasons and the reasons of others some days (especially on the "down days")

I have a niece who was 5 yrs old when I was diagnosed.   I never dreamed I would live to see her grow up....but I did and she did!   She graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in Engineering and I am so proud of her!  She is earning more on her first job than I was making when I left my last "real" job (1995).   I want to see her wedding, I want to be around to know her children.

Here's to everyones' reasons to keep fighting!

hugs,
Alan 

[minismom]

Nearly 8yrs ago, Mini came into this world with big brown eyes, a sweet bald head, 10 tiny fingers, 10 wiggly toes, and HIV.  From that day until now she's fought.  There were times that it looked like she wasn't going to make it, but somehow she managed to reach down and keep fighting.  She was so tiny - just over 5lbs - but I've never known anyone stronger.  There were battles she couldn't fight for herself, so her dad and I had to fight those battles for her: meds, therapy, specialists, hospital stays, MRI's, tests, feeding clinics, diabetes, cerebral palsy.

 Mini fights because she's never known anything different.  We fight because we love her.  She'll never have to fight this alone.

Her biggest accomplishment is watching 13 doctors eat crow. 

"Don't get too attached, most likely she won't live very long."  She'll be 8 in August and will outlive us all.

"You'll be lucky if she learns to crawl by the time she's 2 and she'll probably never learn to talk."  She walked before she was 2 and never shuts up.

"Try not to be too disappointed but she's just not going to be like other kids."  OK, they were right about this one, and thank God.  She's her own person and I would expect nothing less.

The fight hasn't been easy, but it's been worth it.

Mum

[AlanBama]

What a great post, Mum!   Very inspirational.

hugs to you and our dear little one,

Alan 

[John2038]

Thanks all !

My great and unlimited inspiration is the Bible. Those who have the faith will understand, the others guess or won't understand.
This post was not aiming to talk about God, but personally, it help me a lot.

minismom, if I understand well, you and your husband are negative but mini unfortunately poz. How ?

[BT65]

minismom, if I understand well, you and your husband are negative but mini unfortunately poz. How ?

Mini is adopted John.  Her birth mother had HIV.

[minismom]

John, if you have any questions about me, my husband, or mini, I'll ask you to please send them to me in a PM.

Mum (who's sorry for hijacking the thread)

[Matty the Damned]

Those who have the faith will understand, the others guess or won't understand.

Rubbish.

MtD

[YaKaMein]

I see many champions here in the forums big and small [Mini]... am grateful I'm getting to know many of you.

[anniebc]

minismom, if I understand well, you and your husband are negative but mini unfortunately poz. How ?

John this is just my personal view on things... but how members of this forum became infected is none of your buisness and had that question been directed at me I would have told you so in no uncertain terms, and I certainly would not be encouraging you to PM me either, but Mum is obvious a much better person than I am because she responded without the anger I'm feeling towards you right now for having the nerve to ask such a question in a public forum...if people want to dislose to you how they were infected or how a member of their family became infected they will do so in their own time.

Mum..no need to apologise for anything, you haven't hijacked this post at all.

[BT65]

My apologies for giving out the info on Mini, mum.  It was none of my business.  Sorry.

[John2038]

Ok !

[OutOfDarkness]

All of your posts were very touching and gave me a really heavy feeling in my heart, I want to hug all of you.  I found  things in common with you and your stories and feel really connected right now.  Thank you so much for sharing your inspiration and thank you John for invoking some of us to share the strength and beauty that can come out of having such stigmatized disease. 

Peace to all of you and bless little Mini's heart and her family.

[MarkB]

For me, some of the most inspirational posts on these forums have come from Mini and her Mum. I salute her and her family, each and all.

Mark