Saturday, March 17, 2007
My Life with HIV - Doctors Without Borders
MSF gave cameras to people living with HIV/AIDS in eight countries and asked them, with the help of their friends and relatives, to document their lives in photos and words. These are their stories.
Ton from Thailand: ... "When I was sick in hospital with TB my sisters would grind up my pills for me so I could swallow them. They were always there for me.
But the greatest surprise was how HIV brought me closer to my father. I had always believed my father didn't love me and that we could never hope to understand each other. But when he knew about my status my father did many unexpected things and showed affection in many ways. He started studying up on HIV/Aids, attending training courses and exploring different treatment options. Now we are much closer than before.
... Even after the TB I still didn't want to take ARVs. Not long after, I became sick with another opportunistic infection: CMV. This is common in people with HIV and can make you lose your sight.
One day I woke up and it was like a black curtain had gone down over one eye. I tried to rub it away but it wouldn't go.
My mother took me to the hospital and I was put on a course of treatment that meant I had to have injections directly into my eyeball. The doctors told me that if I didn't start ARV treatment I would go blind. I can't tell you how terrifying those injections were. I wouldn't wish them on anybody. ..."
...
MSF gave cameras to people living with HIV/AIDS in eight countries and asked them, with the help of their friends and relatives, to document their lives in photos and words. These are their stories.
Ton from Thailand: ... "When I was sick in hospital with TB my sisters would grind up my pills for me so I could swallow them. They were always there for me.
But the greatest surprise was how HIV brought me closer to my father. I had always believed my father didn't love me and that we could never hope to understand each other. But when he knew about my status my father did many unexpected things and showed affection in many ways. He started studying up on HIV/Aids, attending training courses and exploring different treatment options. Now we are much closer than before.
... Even after the TB I still didn't want to take ARVs. Not long after, I became sick with another opportunistic infection: CMV. This is common in people with HIV and can make you lose your sight.
One day I woke up and it was like a black curtain had gone down over one eye. I tried to rub it away but it wouldn't go.
My mother took me to the hospital and I was put on a course of treatment that meant I had to have injections directly into my eyeball. The doctors told me that if I didn't start ARV treatment I would go blind. I can't tell you how terrifying those injections were. I wouldn't wish them on anybody. ..."
...
Labels: AIDS
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