World AIDS day – Sugar And Spice… Among Other Things

“It’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” Abe Lincoln

Unexpected news or shockers from what was previously imagined as real can give a jolt to the person when understanding hits the surface. Yet when it does happens, how one reacts or rather how all of us react, makes the biggest difference.

35 years male. Single. Known case of thalassemia major. On blood transfusions since age of six years. Recurrent infections. HIV ELISA positive.

40 years female. Recurrent infections since the past year. Atypical pneumonia. Disease profiles variable. HIV ELISA positive.

7 year old male. Recurrent oral candidiasis. Recent diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis. HIV ELISA and PCR positive.

These above cases are not even close to the tip of the iceberg of the damage caused by what was originally believed to be the mutated form of the wild virus in non-human primates. Rising to global pandemic proportions, the origins are traced to as early as 1910 wherein probably the wild virus underwent mutations to the present form by series of changes ranging from suppression of the innate and internal immune response, high-risk transmission channels as well as social and environmental changes leading to the rapid spread of the mutated virus form. Though the earliest well-documented case of HIV in a human was done in 1959, the clinical cluster of cases (1981) in the United States with rare types of pneumonia (symptoms of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP)) and rise of previously rare skin cancer called Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) prompted the CDC to develop a task force to control the outbreak. With these opportunistic infections being more prevalent in the hemophiliacs, drug users, certain endemic areas and social or sexual preferences; the task force stepped up the ante and the term AIDS was coined and brought to the forefront of the mass public.

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From Ryan White to Greg Louganis or Magic Johnson and many numerous people, each of them had fought their battle with the disease of HIV/AIDS. Whether it was by their circumstances or series of unfortunate events, the questions and chaotic thoughts every person or loved one goes through on hearing the positive confirmation is the plenty of “why me’s” and the uncertainty of the future, disease progress and implications on the personal, professional as well as mental front. None of us realize the reality behind the scene, unless we step into the other’s shoes and walk a couple of miles. Only then the false pictures get morphed with those little details that help one to realize the truth was far from what was initially perceived.

“You cannot hope to build a better world without improving the individuals. To that end,each of us must work for our own improvement and, at the same time, share a general responsibility for all humanity, our particular duty being to aid those to whom we think can be most useful.” Marie Curie

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As the global battle continues on multiple fronts, from raising awareness to finding solutions and reparative measures for the ongoing myriad of symptoms and disease complex, society in general as to sit up and take note. Ignorance may be bliss for now, but it always comes at a heavy price. Neither does guilt, accusations or pointing fingers help any. But awareness doesn’t hurt anyone. Instead it helps to build for a better tomorrow. The resilience of mankind lies in the ability to pick the battle and choose wise. Linking the goals for the common future would help for the days of tomorrow.

“A man only begins to be a man when he ceases to whine and revile, and commences to search for the hidden justice which regulates his life. And he adapts his mind to that regulating factor, he ceases to accuse others as the cause of his condition, and builds himself up in strong and noble thoughts; ceases to kick against circumstances, but begins to use them as aids to his more rapid progress, and as a means of the hidden powers and possibilities within himself.” James Allen (As a Man Thinketh)

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Arthur Ashe, one of the legendary Wimbledon Players, the only African-American man to win the Wimbledon and the U.S. and Australian Open had died of complications from AIDS at the age of 49 years. In 1983, it was believed that Ashe had contracted HIV from a blood transfusion which he received during his heart bypass surgery. For in those days, screening of blood for transmissible infectious agents were not done. During his illness , he received letters from his fans, one of which conveyed, “Why did God have to select you for such a bad disease ?”

To this Arthur Ashe replied, “50 Million children started playing Tennis, 5 Million learnt to play Tennis, 500 000 learnt Professional Tennis, 50 Thousand came to Circuit, 5 Thousand reached Grand Slam, 50 reached Wimbledon, 4 reached the Semifinals, 2 reached the Finals and when I was holding the cup in my hand, I never asked God, “Why Me?” So now that I’m in pain how can I ask God,”Why Me?”

“We live in a completely interdependent world, which simply means we cannot escape each other. How we respond to AIDS depends, in part, on whether we understand this interdependence. It is not someone else’s problem. This is everybody’s problem.” Bill Clinton

Yesterday had marked the 30th Anniversary of World AIDS Day with the theme for the observance this year being “Know your status”. The main focus is to contain the disease and reach the 90-90-90 target. The latter is a treatment target to achieve by 2020 which would help end AIDS epidemic. The three targets include that 90% of all people with HIV will know their HIV status, 90% of all people with diagnosed HIV infection will receive sustained antiretroviral therapy and 90% of all people receiving antiretroviral therapy will have viral suppression. While we are on this track, an important aspect not to be sidelined is how the present population who are suffering from this disease are holding up and facing their inner turmoil.

“Because of the lack of education on AIDS, discrimination, fear, panic, and lies surrounded me.” Ryan White

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Sometimes we ourselves are responsible for what affects us. While we do bear the brunt of the bad decisions, choices and mistakes that we make; sometimes things are not in our hands. While some ask the question of “why me”, others condemn themselves for their past errors wondering how can they live or forgive themselves. Alone the burden of the disease is hard to bear. When we add the feeling of guilt and depression as well as melancholy, living becomes difficult. Forgiveness is not just a great gift to bestow on others, it’s also something that allows us to be free. “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”(1 John 1:9)

Our God is a forgiving God as seen in the scriptures. For even when we pay the price for the wrongs that we have done, as long as we resolve to turn over to the right path, our Lord will protect us in His Hands. For forgiveness frees us to be better people through God. As John 14:27 says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Even when we suffer from the mistakes that we have made, when we submit to the Lord, we gain our strength from His Words. “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

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“My name is Ryan White. I am sixteen years old. I have hemophilia, and I have AIDS.” Ryan White

For those who are affected by the disease for no known fault of theirs like Arthur Ashe, the question of “why me” lingers in the mind. Yet what we should remember is that, the Lord’s plan is not known to all. Many a time what happens may not make any sense, but when we look back and view the events that have taken place; we realize that everything had their own purpose. As Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” As the scriptures have shown that the Lord works in miraculous ways in His Time. What we as man can do is to put our trust in His Words, pour our hearts to Him and cloth ourselves with faith in His Words.

“Never, never, never give up.” Winston Churchill

As time and again have proven, the Lord never abandons us as long as we keep our faith in Him intact. For He walks by us at all times and when we are tired He carries us mentally, spiritually, emotionally and even physically indirectly or directly. Despite being weighed down by disease, the Lord will give us the strength and courage to face each day. “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body.”(2 Corinthians 4:8-11)