22 years...WOW

[wolfter]

22 years ago this month, I finally developed AIDS and was in the hospital dying.  So strange that I can remember so much from that period.

I had been feeling like crap for several weeks and refused to go to the doctor or hospital.  Couldn't hold down water and looked like the walking dead.  The thought of food would make me puke let alone if I actually ate.

I awoke one morning and actually felt somewhat normal.  I decided to eat something and was actually enjoying it until Bill looked at me with total horror.  I hadn't even noticed that I had turned this dark shade of orange. 

After being admitted to the hospital (restricted infectious disease room), I was informed I had several organ shutting down including my liver because of HepB.  Later I discovered I never had HepB, but that's a different story. 

I still managed to have a sense of humor, especially when a priest was standing over me speaking in Latin.  I was told I was being given last rites....I was WTF, I'm not Catholic, get out of here.

I was sent home and somehow managed to pull through.  Wow, what a long time ago.  In just 4 short years, I went from being positive to having AIDS.  Unless I was positive a lot longer than I thought which is scary since I'd have still been in highschool.

Certainly wasn't the path I expected, but I managed to complete the journey thus far.  Still hard to believe I'll be 50 in a few years considering I didn't think I'd make it to 30. 

Thanks for reading.

Wolfie

[leatherman]

WooHoo! for not dying. I would have missed out on meeting and knowing a GREAT guy if you hadn't had made it this far, my friend.

Isn't it crazy how memories from over 2 decades ago can still be so fresh sometimes? Maybe it's because some of those were the worst memories we have. I've got some days when I was in the hospital, and some days when my guys were in there, that I can recall every detail about.

I had to laugh at the part about the priest. One of my times I almost died/hospital stays was a general hospital and another time was a Catholic hospital. While the sisters, etc were all very kind, being Baptist myself, all the crosses and crazy prayers the sisters and priests wanted to do were very strange. Oh, and I definitely remember both Randy and Jim kicking out the priests that wanted to do that last rites stuff.

Hope you have a great day celebrating and hope you have another wonderful 22 years (at least!!!) of living.

[aztecan]

Wolfie, looks like we have yet another reason for yet another lavender martinie in D.C.!

Congratulations, but I think you would look good in orange.

HUGS,

Mark

[Buckmark]

Wolfie, looks like we have yet another reason for yet another lavender martinie in D.C.!

As if you needed a reason to have a martini.

Wolfie, we'll see you in less than 2 weeks in DC!

[Theyer]

This nearly dying thing does make for rare experiences, have fun in Washington ,all.
Michael

[wolfter]

Wolfie, looks like we have yet another reason for yet another lavender martinie in D.C.!

Congratulations, but I think you would look good in orange.

HUGS,

Mark

   I remember when just waking each day was cause to celebrate.  Looking forwards to that martini!

[wolfter]

As if you needed a reason to have a martini.

Wolfie, we'll see you in less than 2 weeks in DC!

  Busted.