Night comes. An unsettling feeling that he is probably not going to fall asleep anytime soon, his mind spiraling down a dark deep well or if he does fall asleep, just another equally horrifying experience, the endless nightmares tormenting him for the rest of the night. It goes on and on and on for years.
When Theo first found out he was HIV positive, his world slowed down.
His emotions burst through his chest, the blood rushing through every vein in his body. Such a life-changing experience. He spent months deliberating about where it all went wrong, and how he was supposed to live or navigate life from here on.
Every day, Theo gets up to take his tablet and is reminded of his HIV status. He puts on a face as he goes out and about, in preparation of whatever life may throw at him.
You may think this is not a big deal taking one tablet a day, but the constant reminding of a daily medication can take a heavy toll emotionally.
He is alive, but not living.
One day, however, he was inspired to give life another chance, so he asks for professional help. This is one of the hardest things he has ever done.
Theo’s doctor changed his HIV medication from one tablet a day to an injectable medication, once every 8 weeks. Such a relief for him mentally, emotionally, and physically.
Injectables are now changing the landscape of people living with HIV.
And from there, little by little, with support from people who love him and with professional help, he begins to reclaim his life, what has been lost, what has been damaged, and what is yet to be accomplished. The journey may not be rainbows and sunshine, but he is determined to embark on this new journey.
A sense of freedom is emerging for Theo now, and his future is looking more optimistic.
The advancement of HIV treatment has made it so much more convenient and flexible for him to navigate through life, and life has just become a lot easier for him than it used to be.
