By James Gerring
Special to the Record-Eagle
December 01, 2009 07:15 am Editor's Note: Students in Jennifer Stairs' English/Language Arts class at the TBAISD Career-Tech Center in Traverse City wrote essays around the theme of World AIDS Day, which is being marked today. HIV and AIDS are the same thing, right? Wrong. Many people have the common misconception that HIV and AIDS are one in the same. It is commonly known as HIV/AIDS. In fact, AIDS is a condition caused by the HIV virus. HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. The virus attacks the immune system, causing the compromised person to become susceptible to even the most common bacteria and infections. However, it is possible to live a normal life with the HIV virus. There is a cocktail of drugs available to prevent the virus from destroying the immune system. AIDS is the condition that results from the HIV virus. When a person develops AIDS, the immune system is no longer able to fight off even the most common illnesses. At the moment there is no cure for AIDS, however AIDS is not an automatic death sentence like it was as little as 10 years ago. Treatment options available today are helping HIV/AIDS positive people live longer, more normal lives. Take the story of Nelson Vergel, for example. He was diagnosed with HIV in 1986 when he was only 27 years old. At the time it was supposed to be a death sentence; he thought he would never live to be 30. Today he is 50 years old, and living an active life as an international speaker on HIV treatments and side effects management. He also is the co-author of the book "Built to Survive." Vergel says that his number one issue right now is fatigue. He struggles to find the energy to make it through the day sometimes. He is getting testosterone injections every two weeks to treat his fatigue, but he says it is hard sometimes. Still, he finds energy to travel around the world telling people there is hope for people with HIV/AIDS. The first step people need to take when they discover they are HIV positive is to stop feeling sorry for themselves and do something about it. They need to not let this disease control their lives; they need to control the disease. An important part of staying healthy is living a normal active life, instead of sitting around all day feeling sorry for yourself. Be open about it. There is no shame in being HIV positive. Make it known to people so they can support you. Talk to your doctor about what you can do to be as healthy as possible. Don't give up hope. I don't know what you may think, but I would take this illness as a challenge. This virus is trying to kill me, so I'm going to do everything in my power to not let it succeed. For HIV-positive people, the choice is up to you. Let this virus slowly eat away and destroy your body, or do something about it and live a normal happy life. James Gerring is a senior at the TBA Career-Tech Center.
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James Gerring Special to the Record-Eagle