It was a scary step I took to go public with my HIV status on the 22 January 2011 and I haven’t looked back since.
Thanks to Charlotte Kemp from www.nichetraining.co.za and Shawn Fouche from http://socialmediasolutions.co.za as they ‘forced’ me to put myself out there and do something that was only a growing thought at the time.
What happened that day, after many stops and starts in the constructing of my website, www.cindypivacic.co.za was that I went around to Charlotte and finalised a few posts, closed my eyes and pressed the send button to go public. The amazing support and feedback that came my way from the get go was astounding and the backing has never dried up.
One of my decisions to go public was to provide access to others living with HIV; a place and person they could relate to in the same situation, enabling them to source/share information and receive support.
I am happy to say people have found me via many of the social media forums and I find myself in the fortunate position to assist by communicating reliable information to those infected and affected.
My health situation has been great for the last seven years having dealt with various acquired afflictions such as pneumonia, shingles, two strokes (2005 & 2006), TB Meningitis as well as Cancer, namely Angioimmunoblasticlymphadenopathy ;-).
I attribute my present good health partly to the fact that I disclosed my status, thus removing the burden of silence which leads to stress, leading to ill health. My Mother Lindsay Heydenrych (80 yrs) and on Facebook I might add, has been my greatest support over the years and for this, I thank you.
November 2014 I hit my 10 year anniversary of living with HIV & AIDS and am sure I will be around for a long time to come and know that there are no wrong questions……if you don’t know the question, you certainly won’t know the answer, ask!
Hopefully by doing what i am doing we will remove that dreaded word, ‘Stigma’ . Think before you use it and refer to the virus as a ‘chronic illness’ instead.
Let’s get the year going with this; Spread the word not the Virus
Thanks to ONE and ALL for your ongoing support
#TakeCareBeAware
Regards
#CindyHIV