Sarahiously Speaking

My Wedding Day HIV/ AIDS Ribbon

The CDC warns that over 1 million Americans are living with the HIV virus today.  250,000 of them are unaware of their condition.  In conjunction with National HIV Testing Day, June 27, 2009, the Fredericksburg Area HIV/ AIDS Support Services will be holding an open house on Friday, June 26, 2009 from 9am-5pm.  The staff will be offering free HIV testing, food, education, and fun.  For more information click here. 

Testing is quick and easy.  An oral swab is used to gather saliva and then is analyzed to detect antibodies that are being produced.  Results are back within 3 days and results are shared at a follow-up appointment. 

HIV/ AIDS is a virus that sees no color, no age, no sex, no nationality, no religion, and no sexual orientation.  It is preventable, but not curable.  The virus has early symptoms like the flu – headache, fever, sore muscles and joints, swollen lymph nodes, stomach ache, and sometimes a skin rash.  During the initial stages of the virus you will not test positive.  It takes a few weeks to a few months for your body to start producing the antibodies that are detected by the HIV/ AIDS test.    

My father passed away on September 17, 1996 due to complications from the AIDS virus.  He lived 5 short years after being diagnosed with the disease.  His symptoms showed up as the Shingles virus in February 1991.   He was 52 when he died.  I was 17.  He missed my high school graduation, my college graduation, meeting and approving of my future-husband, my wedding, and my future children will never meet their maternal-grandfather.  There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t miss him and wish that he could know how I’ve turned out.  Medicine has changed in the past 13 years.  So many advances have been made.  Quality and quantity of life is enhanced by early detection.  5 years wasn’t long enough to say goodbye.  5 years only gave me enough time to know how much I loved him and how much I would miss him.  For your family, for your friends, for yourself… get tested.

I will be walking in honor of my father this Sunday, June 28, 2009 at the AIDS Walk/ Run 5k at the Cannon Ridge Golf Course.  After finding out about my father, someone once said to me, “We don’t get to pick our parents.”  My response, “If I could, I still would have picked my dad.”  I am walking for regret, love, and hope.  I am walking for my father.

(You can still register to particpate at Virginia Runner in Central Park on June 27 10am-5pm or on race day at Cannon Ridge starting at 7am.  FredStock will be starting at Cannon Ridge at 11am in conjunction with the AIDS Walk/ Run 5k.  Music starts at 11am and ends at 8pm.  Concert is free, but donations are accepted.  Bring chairs and blankets, but coolers are prohibited).

So, my 2nd post will be an educational one, I hope.  As some of you may know, I am a huge fan of holidays.  It doesn’t matter what the holiday is, I just like to celebrate!  Some holidays are more fun than others.  Some of my personal favorites are Talk Like a Pirate Day, Blame Someone Else Day, and Hug Your Cat Day.  But, sometimes there is a holiday that just makes you pause and think.  Today is such a day.  As I logged onto the computer this morning, my calendar notified me of how important today is.  Today is National HIV/AIDS Testing Day.  Why is this such a poignant holiday for me?  My father was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS when I was in 7th grade.  He lost his battle 5 years later when I was a Senior in high school.  By the time he found out he had this disease, it was too late.  His T-cell count was below 200.  It was merely a waiting game by then.  My hope is that anyone who may be at risk, or thinks they may be at risk, will take the time to get tested today.  There are an estimated 250,000 Americans who have HIV/AIDS and don’t know it.  Their families don’t know it and their partners don’t know it.  This disease can not be cured, but with the proper medical treatments, a quality life can be prolonged.  Here are some links for more information about this very important holiday:

www.hhs.gov/aidsawarenessdays/

http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/factsheets/

BE SMART and BE SAFE on National HIV Testing Day! Free HIV testing for anyone on a walk-in basis by Fredericksburg Area HIV/AIDS Support Services. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at 415 Elm Street, Fredericksburg.