This year is one year I will never forget. Whereas 2012 is a year of struggles and uncertainties, I will remember 2013 as the year I fought the battle with HIV... and won. The war may be far from over, and I know there are still more battles to come, but this year, I proved to myself, and to everyone, that there is life after HIV diagnosis. A better life.
Career. After I got diagnosed, the first question that popped into my mind was, "Pano na yung trabaho ko?" I am an OFW, working in a country that bans PLHIV, and I am the breadwinner of the family. I cannot lose my job! That time, I had a lot of fear, and a lot of questions ran in my mind: Should I disclose to my employer? Should I resign before they find out? How would I travel with my ARVs? What if they find out? But soon after, as I went through my daily life, I realized all those fear were just products of my paranoia - similar fear i experienced before i got tested.
I was on indefinite medical leave for 6 months - with pay. Other companies will waste no time firing you on medical grounds if you go on leave for that long, but the company I was working for was very compassionate. My boss was not asking too many questions, and he didn't pressure me on going back to work unless I'm ready.
I'm very thankful just for being able to keep my job, but God showered me with blessings. This year alone, I got several pay raise, and my workload has also gone down a bit. I am also given more vacations back home, which means I get more time to relax. My CD4 are happy!
Lovelife. I think I've written enough about my lovelife in this blog and on twitter that I'm beginning to sound cheesy! My year started out on a sad note with my breakup with J, but it ended with a bang with S.
J and I are now good friends. Just last night, S and I had dinner with him and his new boyfriend, who is also a good friend of mine, along with R and his boyfriend. I don't feel any grudge towards J for what happened between the two of us, and it's a fact of life that relationships start and end. He will always have a special place in my heart, for being there during the time I needed someone the most. I am also thankful to him, because my short-lived relationship with him was the catalyst to the development of my relationship with S.
S and I are now going stronger. We're bestfriends and lovers put together. We supported each other when we were both suffering from anemia. He was my best friend and confidant when I was still seeing J, and after J and I broke up, my relationship with S moved up to another level.
Our relationship is not perfect. We argued a lot. We've broken up countless times. When we officially became a couple, we broke up the following day, making it the shortest relationship I've had. EVER! We argued so much that one time, we even blocked each other from social media.
S and I may have our differences, and we may argue a lot, but these only make our relationship grow stronger. When we argue, we get to know each other a little better. Only when we know each other do we understand each other, and only when we understand each other that we learn to compromise.
To S, you are God's blessing to me. I love you.
Friends. This year, I met a lot of friends. Many I met at RITM, and many more through twitter and PR.
Worth mentioning is R. He is quiet and is the perfect representation of what a lurker on twitter is like. But he's always there when S and I need a friend. When S and I argue, he's the first person we go to. When S and I blocked each other on social media, he mediated so we can talk and make up. To R, you know who you are. Thank you for being the best friend for S and I. You are the best! We love you!
Another worth mentioning is D. I met him through PR, but he's also in twitter now. I still haven't introduced him to S, because he is still uncomfortable coming out. He is a very good listener and I can tell him things I wouldn't normally tell another person. To D, thanks for the friendship and more years to come!
Also worth mentioning are friends who visited me during my confinement in January this year: blogger/doctor K and chef/nurse JR. We may not be in touch as often as we would like, but you guys are some of my closest poz friends!
Of course, I won't forget my friends at RITM: Dr. Pasayan, Ate Ellen, Nurse Roldan and Mon and his mom!
Health. I've never felt healthier! My body hasn't gone back to it's old form, but hey, I haven't been working out as much either. My annual checkup last June revealed that my hemoglobin is back to within normal range, as well as my serum creatinine, xray and sputum. My CD4 count can still be improved at 224, but the best news is that my viral load is now considered undetectable! Yey!
I thank God for the gift of love, wealth, friendships and health. When I thought I was about to lose everything, You gave it back to me tenfold. I give all these back to You. May You guide me to become a better person, a better son, a better brother, a better friend, and a better lover. All in the glory of Your Name.
