Elizabeth

My name is Elizabeth I am 33. I am born to a very poor family. Father keeps coming home drunk and beating my mother, he beats us too. One night my father nearly kills mother and I vow I will never forgive him. I have to do odd jobs to help mother.

I meet this man working in a law firm and we fall in love. I run away from home to stay with him. Five months later, I am pregnant. It is a difficult pregnancy because I have to treat sexually transmitted infections every now and then. I tell my husband and he tells me to go to hell. I am advised to take a HIV test. I am requested by the doctor to come with my husband who refuses. I take the test for the sake of my baby. I am told that I am HIV positive. I am shocked. I am lost, but I do not believe it. I take another test and it is still HIV positive. I know my life and my dreams have finally come to an end. My baby girl is born but marital life becomes unbearable. I go back home with Nicole. I finally tell mum about my HIV status. Nicole is approaching her 6th year and she is not HIV infected. I am glad I did not take my life. I would not have had a chance to share my story. It is unfortunate that I have just tested positive for cancer. I hope I will be treated. I still continue running my small business but I have a dream. I know I will get support to grow my business and live a meaningful life… A life without violence.