Testing, Testing … HIV Testing

So I may have mentioned my little trip to the emergency room two weeks ago thanks to an injury that turned out to be a high ankle sprain. Well, as I was laying in the hospital bed, enjoying the sensations of percocet taking over my body while I waited for the x-ray results, a nurse visited me and asked if I would like an HIV test.

Huh?

Well apparently, since so many residents of Washington, D.C. are HIV-positive, District hospitals offer all patients (in-, out-, and emergency) a free HIV test. Although I already knew my status, I said sure, I would get the finger prick test. (ouch!).

HIV test

You can never have too many confirmations.

Fifteen minutes later, the nurse returned to inform me that I am HIV-negative.

Do you know your status?

Whether you think you do, think you don’t, think you’re safe, worry that you’re not, it’s something that everyone should know with 100 percent certainty.

So go! Get tested.

That concludes today’s public service announcement.

As you were.

~~~~~~~~~

Postscript:

Coincidentally, last week after I wrote this post and was about to publish, I received an email from an amazing individual whom I had the pleasure to get to know as my instructor during last spring’s yoga teacher training. Kevin has volunteered or worked for AIDS organizations since he was 18; his committment to the cause is obvious to all who know him. He is participating in October’s DC AIDS Walk to support Whitman-Walker Health. Please consider a donation to help Kevin raise money for this excellent cause; the text of his email is below. Thank you!

This year I’ll be running the DC AIDS Walk to support Whitman-Walker Health. This is a cause and organization close to my heart. I’ve worked with Whitman-Walker for almost a decade off and on, and I’ve seen firsthand how AIDS impacts people’s lives. While the pandemic has been well known and managed for over three decades, the virus continues to devastate individuals and families. The physical and psychological effects of AIDS are major, not to mention the social stigma still present with the virus. My years of service to this organization have been mixed; some have lost the battle against the virus, while others live and survive and recover. However, without community support, we cannot continue this fight.

If you can support this cause, your donation will go to help the doctors, nurses, social workers, counselors, health educators, lawyers, patient advocates, and the many more that help people living with the virus live healthier and fuller lives. If you have a moment, please take a moment to donate: http://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1010031&lis=1&kntae1010031=CB6BAF3AF01147BAB5F732F6CB620860&supId=336086023

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