Patricia

My name is Patricia and I am 16. I am born in a family of four children. I have three brothers. Mum dies when I am 6 years old. Mum has been really sick. She lost a lot of weight and had burned skin around her waist and chest. I am later told this is known as herpes. I am HIV positive.

I don’t know why I have this status yet my siblings both the ones that were born before me and those that were born after me do not have HIV. I still don’t understand where I got HIV because at the time of infection I was a child. I still don’t understand why it was me and not any of my siblings. At 10 I get herpes attack. My body is burning as if it is on fire. My dad has just married my stepmother and there is no-one to support me to deal with this. My step mother delivers a child who is infected with HIV. My step mother dies and immediately after dad marries another woman who also dies after a short while. My dad is now married again.

I am so scared of death. My teachers provide counseling for me in school and during the holidays I get counseling from my support group. I still am not sure how I got HIV infection or why it had to be me.

I pray that I will be able to complete my education and have a meaningful life like those who have done so ahead of me.