Capitol Building
Jenn and Dab outside of KARK 4 building (news station)
Dab and I outside KARK by the State Capitol Building
Mardi Gras!
Mardi Gras!
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Adventures with Dab!
Christmastime with Dab. (I am working on getting my posts caught up! Please bear with me)
Getting in the Christmas spirit
Helping wrap presents
Helping decorate the tree
Enjoying the fireplace
Christmas morning with all the presents
Christmas Eve
Kisses in the Christmas Day snow
Making a snow angel on Christmas Day
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Adventures with Dab!
Dab visited a Bikers Against Child Abuse meeting with me!
Dab also hung out with some pretty cool people.
With Meanie
Riding TC's bike
Hanging out with Half Pint
Hanging with Switch
Dab also hung out with some pretty cool people.
My Marmy!
My Daddy!
Jesse's Dad!
Randy!
Jesse!
Join us next Sunday for more Adventures with Dab!
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Getting Active
A few weeks ago a co-worker mentioned that she was going to join a free run/walk clinic. I thought that it was a fabulous idea and I asked for the information, so I could find a clinic close to me.
I can't tell you how many times I have started to work out or say I am going to work out this many times a week and I never follow through. I normally do good for a week or so then I get to "busy" to work out. At this point even dishes look more enticing than exercising. Everything seems to take priority over working out. Randy, Jesse and I have all tried to hold each other accountable, but that doesn't last long either. We give into each other to easy. I have gained almost 20 pounds since my surgery last year. Being taken out of commission for so long has made me really lazy. I will be the first person to point that out. My surgery was in April 2012 and I couldn't walk normal until almost August or lift more than 5 pounds until the end of September. That is a long time to not be able to do very much and start bad habits of sitting around all the time munching on things because there is nothing else to do.
Women Can Run Arkansas has free clinics all throughout the state. I am running with almost 400 other women in Cabot, AR. Of course, we are broken down into groups and I am in the beginner running group because I can't run for a solid minute. I think there is still time to register, since we are only a week in check out more information here.
I felt pretty good running/walking with everyone this week. I surprised myself I was able to keep up better than I thought I was going to. Tuesday, I was sore, but it was manageable. I made the mistake of wearing my 3 inch heels to work on Wednesday, which was not the best idea for my legs. Thursday, came around and I was really looking forward to getting back out on the roads with the wonderful women at the clinic. I was definitely feeling it more that night. My muscles were still a little sore and I was starting to get shin splints. One of the leaders of my group took time after we got done running to show us stretches we can do to help with the pain in our legs.
I am looking forward to Monday night when we get out running again!
I can't tell you how many times I have started to work out or say I am going to work out this many times a week and I never follow through. I normally do good for a week or so then I get to "busy" to work out. At this point even dishes look more enticing than exercising. Everything seems to take priority over working out. Randy, Jesse and I have all tried to hold each other accountable, but that doesn't last long either. We give into each other to easy. I have gained almost 20 pounds since my surgery last year. Being taken out of commission for so long has made me really lazy. I will be the first person to point that out. My surgery was in April 2012 and I couldn't walk normal until almost August or lift more than 5 pounds until the end of September. That is a long time to not be able to do very much and start bad habits of sitting around all the time munching on things because there is nothing else to do.
Women Can Run Arkansas has free clinics all throughout the state. I am running with almost 400 other women in Cabot, AR. Of course, we are broken down into groups and I am in the beginner running group because I can't run for a solid minute. I think there is still time to register, since we are only a week in check out more information here.
We meet every Monday and Thursday evening. It has been really nice to get out and meet other people that are wanting to get healthier and in better shape. The time goes by pretty quickly because we have people to talk with as we are walking and running. This week we have had to run in the dark, but thankfully next week that will change because of the time change.
I felt pretty good running/walking with everyone this week. I surprised myself I was able to keep up better than I thought I was going to. Tuesday, I was sore, but it was manageable. I made the mistake of wearing my 3 inch heels to work on Wednesday, which was not the best idea for my legs. Thursday, came around and I was really looking forward to getting back out on the roads with the wonderful women at the clinic. I was definitely feeling it more that night. My muscles were still a little sore and I was starting to get shin splints. One of the leaders of my group took time after we got done running to show us stretches we can do to help with the pain in our legs.
I am looking forward to Monday night when we get out running again!
Monday, February 18, 2013
My Brother's HIV Story
Please enjoy:
It was May of 1994. I was enrolled in cosmetology school. The Red-Cross blood-mobile was in the parking lot and several of us cosmos decided to donate some of life's juice. So, I went through their little questioner and proceeded to the back and reclined back and pumped out a bag of life.
Two weeks later a health department employee came to the school to talk to me. I walking into the Dean's office and I was there alone with this nice looking lady, as she introduced herself to me she explained the process blood goes through and the testing as well, then she dropped the bomb and became the most vile looking creature ever (still haunts my dreams). She told me my blood tested positive for the HIV virus. I sat like the "Thinker Statue" for several moments. Finally she broke the silence and said she had a few questions for me. So we started the short list and when she asked me about if I wanted to contact all my sexual partners past and present or did I want the Health Department. I chose to do it myself. And with no emotion I led her out the doors and swore that they made and error and I wasn't letting anyone know. And I didn't I went as normal as possible and eventually blocked out/forgot the whole issue!
I lived a careless life free from worries, stress and drama. Then living in Tulsa, OK I met a great boy who was my server at IHOP and tipped him, as well as, setting up a date. His name was Chris. We dated for about a month, everyday if possible. A month later I moved in with Chris. Everything was going great we spend the winter and spring together then July 4th came and we celebrated partying with some friends at a public field party. Someone from the Gay, Lesbian and Transgender Center handed us a baggie of condoms. I laughed because Chris never used a condom with me. But, there always was a business car in that baggie for free AIDS testing. So after we got home, Chris said let's do it, let's go get tested. I loved Chris, at that moment that vile creature popped in my head. Reluctant and nauseous I agreed to go and get tested on his day off.
The third week of July we went to the free testing center. Say in the reception area and filled out some pretty lengthy questioners. And we both decided to test with our real name and not anonymous. So they separately took us into a test room, got our fingers pricked, smeared it on the test card. The volunteers sealed it and made an appointment to come in for the results. Two extremely nerve wrecking weeks.
On the Wednesday of the second week in August 1998, Chris and I went to the center to learn of our destiny. On the way there I made a vow if it came back that the truth was the same as it was 4 years earlier I would just check out of life, end it so I wouldn't have to face the world or anyone for that matter. We pulled into the parking lot behind the center and got out. I almost bit the dust. Getting out of the truck my legs were rubber and I just knew. So, we went in sat down in the reception area for seemingly eternity. Then the guy said, "who want to go first?" I shrunk back and Chris went in brace and came out smiling minutes later. My turn.
I went in the first room off straight across from the reception area. I sat across from the guy and said to him, "If I got it, just tell me, I know already that I got it I know I do." He as a volunteer wax extremely gentle and compassionate. He opened the envelope and looked at it a long minute. And sadly with a tear in his eye he said, "I'm really sorry, but yes your test came back positive, you have HIV. I sat there for a second, got up thanked him and walked frozen into the reception area and looked at Chris and feel apart. Chris got up and bear hugged me and said it's OK. I'm not leaving you, I love you! The volunteer handed me a packet of info and the number and address to the infectious disease clinic.
A month later, the Health Department of Oklahoma contacted me and I met the gentleman at Denny's. I answered all his questions and gave him a list of full names that I could remember. I couldn't tell my past. That night, after a nice dinner with Chris, with his coaching I called my mommy. "Hi, I love you, I need to tell you, I got tested and I got HIV." Honestly, I don't remember her reply. I think she cried, but to my disbelief , she was still on the phone she didn't tell me to die and slam the phone down as I expected.
Around a week later I was at the Infectious Disease Clinic at the hospital.More blood drawn and the famous question at the hospital who gave "it" to you. I have an idea, but not sure, was my response. Truth is I knew who gave it to me, but he isn't to blame. I knowingly had sex with this guy, but I was around 16 in a mental hospital in Texas and truly believed "it" wouldn't ever happened to me, but it did. A week later I showed back up at the ID Clinic and heard some astonishing news. I was lucky at that time I wasn't even sick. My CD4 was around 428 and my viral load was close to 4,600. Insane! Immediately the doctor prescribed like 5 or 6 medications and vitamin supplements. Which was extremely difficult to swallow. Literally and figuratively! But fortunately I didn't end it and keep my promise to myself.
Many years later being medically compliant was not in my vocabulary and I declined again over several years. Eventually, living without any support as I thought, I got sick with PCP Pneumonia. They admitted me to the hospital and guess what...more blood work. Came back and my CD4 was 113 and my viral load was 148,000. I knew I was a lost cause. Three weeks later after I recovered from my pneumonia. I went home to Doug and David.
Depressed and pissed off I lay in bed in the back of the house. At something around 9:00pm I sat up went and got a beer and my bag of pills. I sat back in the bed and without a second thought gulped down approximately 9,000mg of Dilantin, 12,000mg of Tegutol and 3,000mg of Phenobarbitol. Chugged the remainder of the beer and laid back for a long winter nap as Doug was at work and David watched TV. I was dying. Sometime later not to long, David came to say goodnight, and I was grey and unresponsive. So 911 got called it was October 16, 2004. I was really almost dead. I had quit breathing and by the time the paramedics got there my heart had stopped. So they did CPR on me for several minutes. And off to ICU I went at Kansas City Hospital. Where Doug had met David and the ICU doctor had told them to call family and a minister and they will need to sign and call a funeral home. The ICU doctor called the doctor at KU Medical ID Clinic. Dr. Bajarcharia and told him I had overdosed and he highly doubted I'd survive. I was on a respirator, unresponsive, and extremely critical. I stayed comatose for 9 days. On the 10th day I was coherent, but still couldn't breath on my own till day 12. I spend the next 3 weeks in the hospital.
Now, 8 years later, medically compliant (again) CD4 324 viral load undetectable.
~Josh
I hope that by my brother sharing his story it will help someone out there. Whether you are newly diagnosed or if you have known for quite some time. You aren't alone. There are other people out there fighting the same battle right along with you.
My brother is currently paying a debt to society for getting mixed up with drugs. While he is away I will be his voice and share his story in order to help others. If my brothers story can help at least one person out there I know I am doing my job.
Joshie would like to read your comments. Please share below or if you would like to share them privately with him you can write him at:
Joshua Daum #1152853
Potosi Correctional Center
11593 State Highway O
Mineral Point, MO 63660
It was May of 1994. I was enrolled in cosmetology school. The Red-Cross blood-mobile was in the parking lot and several of us cosmos decided to donate some of life's juice. So, I went through their little questioner and proceeded to the back and reclined back and pumped out a bag of life.
Two weeks later a health department employee came to the school to talk to me. I walking into the Dean's office and I was there alone with this nice looking lady, as she introduced herself to me she explained the process blood goes through and the testing as well, then she dropped the bomb and became the most vile looking creature ever (still haunts my dreams). She told me my blood tested positive for the HIV virus. I sat like the "Thinker Statue" for several moments. Finally she broke the silence and said she had a few questions for me. So we started the short list and when she asked me about if I wanted to contact all my sexual partners past and present or did I want the Health Department. I chose to do it myself. And with no emotion I led her out the doors and swore that they made and error and I wasn't letting anyone know. And I didn't I went as normal as possible and eventually blocked out/forgot the whole issue!
I lived a careless life free from worries, stress and drama. Then living in Tulsa, OK I met a great boy who was my server at IHOP and tipped him, as well as, setting up a date. His name was Chris. We dated for about a month, everyday if possible. A month later I moved in with Chris. Everything was going great we spend the winter and spring together then July 4th came and we celebrated partying with some friends at a public field party. Someone from the Gay, Lesbian and Transgender Center handed us a baggie of condoms. I laughed because Chris never used a condom with me. But, there always was a business car in that baggie for free AIDS testing. So after we got home, Chris said let's do it, let's go get tested. I loved Chris, at that moment that vile creature popped in my head. Reluctant and nauseous I agreed to go and get tested on his day off.
The third week of July we went to the free testing center. Say in the reception area and filled out some pretty lengthy questioners. And we both decided to test with our real name and not anonymous. So they separately took us into a test room, got our fingers pricked, smeared it on the test card. The volunteers sealed it and made an appointment to come in for the results. Two extremely nerve wrecking weeks.
On the Wednesday of the second week in August 1998, Chris and I went to the center to learn of our destiny. On the way there I made a vow if it came back that the truth was the same as it was 4 years earlier I would just check out of life, end it so I wouldn't have to face the world or anyone for that matter. We pulled into the parking lot behind the center and got out. I almost bit the dust. Getting out of the truck my legs were rubber and I just knew. So, we went in sat down in the reception area for seemingly eternity. Then the guy said, "who want to go first?" I shrunk back and Chris went in brace and came out smiling minutes later. My turn.
I went in the first room off straight across from the reception area. I sat across from the guy and said to him, "If I got it, just tell me, I know already that I got it I know I do." He as a volunteer wax extremely gentle and compassionate. He opened the envelope and looked at it a long minute. And sadly with a tear in his eye he said, "I'm really sorry, but yes your test came back positive, you have HIV. I sat there for a second, got up thanked him and walked frozen into the reception area and looked at Chris and feel apart. Chris got up and bear hugged me and said it's OK. I'm not leaving you, I love you! The volunteer handed me a packet of info and the number and address to the infectious disease clinic.
A month later, the Health Department of Oklahoma contacted me and I met the gentleman at Denny's. I answered all his questions and gave him a list of full names that I could remember. I couldn't tell my past. That night, after a nice dinner with Chris, with his coaching I called my mommy. "Hi, I love you, I need to tell you, I got tested and I got HIV." Honestly, I don't remember her reply. I think she cried, but to my disbelief , she was still on the phone she didn't tell me to die and slam the phone down as I expected.
Around a week later I was at the Infectious Disease Clinic at the hospital.More blood drawn and the famous question at the hospital who gave "it" to you. I have an idea, but not sure, was my response. Truth is I knew who gave it to me, but he isn't to blame. I knowingly had sex with this guy, but I was around 16 in a mental hospital in Texas and truly believed "it" wouldn't ever happened to me, but it did. A week later I showed back up at the ID Clinic and heard some astonishing news. I was lucky at that time I wasn't even sick. My CD4 was around 428 and my viral load was close to 4,600. Insane! Immediately the doctor prescribed like 5 or 6 medications and vitamin supplements. Which was extremely difficult to swallow. Literally and figuratively! But fortunately I didn't end it and keep my promise to myself.
Many years later being medically compliant was not in my vocabulary and I declined again over several years. Eventually, living without any support as I thought, I got sick with PCP Pneumonia. They admitted me to the hospital and guess what...more blood work. Came back and my CD4 was 113 and my viral load was 148,000. I knew I was a lost cause. Three weeks later after I recovered from my pneumonia. I went home to Doug and David.
Depressed and pissed off I lay in bed in the back of the house. At something around 9:00pm I sat up went and got a beer and my bag of pills. I sat back in the bed and without a second thought gulped down approximately 9,000mg of Dilantin, 12,000mg of Tegutol and 3,000mg of Phenobarbitol. Chugged the remainder of the beer and laid back for a long winter nap as Doug was at work and David watched TV. I was dying. Sometime later not to long, David came to say goodnight, and I was grey and unresponsive. So 911 got called it was October 16, 2004. I was really almost dead. I had quit breathing and by the time the paramedics got there my heart had stopped. So they did CPR on me for several minutes. And off to ICU I went at Kansas City Hospital. Where Doug had met David and the ICU doctor had told them to call family and a minister and they will need to sign and call a funeral home. The ICU doctor called the doctor at KU Medical ID Clinic. Dr. Bajarcharia and told him I had overdosed and he highly doubted I'd survive. I was on a respirator, unresponsive, and extremely critical. I stayed comatose for 9 days. On the 10th day I was coherent, but still couldn't breath on my own till day 12. I spend the next 3 weeks in the hospital.
Now, 8 years later, medically compliant (again) CD4 324 viral load undetectable.
~Josh
I hope that by my brother sharing his story it will help someone out there. Whether you are newly diagnosed or if you have known for quite some time. You aren't alone. There are other people out there fighting the same battle right along with you.
My brother is currently paying a debt to society for getting mixed up with drugs. While he is away I will be his voice and share his story in order to help others. If my brothers story can help at least one person out there I know I am doing my job.
Joshie would like to read your comments. Please share below or if you would like to share them privately with him you can write him at:
Joshua Daum #1152853
Potosi Correctional Center
11593 State Highway O
Mineral Point, MO 63660
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Ambassador of Hope
I have always been a big supporter of my brother. He has made some choices in life that haven't been the best, but I will always be there for him. That is what family is for.
This post is a little long over due, but its better late than never!
For my birthday I made the decision that I wanted to give back instead of receive. I would much rather d something for other people than to do something for myself. I have spent quite a bit of time researching different organizations trying to find something that would fit me and work with my schedule. I finally found an organization that couldn't fit me any better. Dabs the AIDS Bear Project.
I contacted the founder of the organization Dab Garner to get a little more information and to become an Ambassador of Hope.
A little bit about the program:
The Ambassador of Hope program began in 1990 when Dab was battling non-Hodgkin's lymphoma for the first time. He knew that he might not survive, but wanted to train other men and women to be activists to serve, protect and help people with HIV and AIDS. When the program began only HIV positive individuals could join the program. In the mid 1990's, HIV negative individuals were approaching Dab to become an Ambassador of Hope. Even though the individuals were HIV negative they in some way were effected by HIV and AIDS, whether a friend or family member lost their battle or provided services for their community. The program was then opened to HIV negative individuals who wanted to support those living with HIV and AIDS.
There are over 400 active Ambassadors of Hope in 27 countries.
Being an Ambassador of Hope it is my pleasure to take Dab the AIDS Bear around with me and take photos everywhere I go to spread his message.
My Dab the AIDS Bear arrived on my door step on December 10, 2012 and I couldn't wait to get started taking photos. Before I share a few of my photos with Dab, if you would like more information about this program please visit www.dabtheaidsbearproject.com.
Dab's first photo
Dab got hungry at the hotel
Waiting in line at Samurai of Tokoyo
Hanging out by one of the displays at Samurai of Tokoyo
Hanging out with our Chef after he cooked out food
Thursday, January 3, 2013
How one gets HIV/AIDS
So After reading My Mission now the questions is how exactly does one get HIV/AIDS? HIV is found in specific bodily fluids and if any of those enter your body you can be infected with HIV.
HIV can be transmitted through...
- Sexual Contact
- Pregnancy, Childbirth and Breast Feeding
- Injection Drug Use
- Occupational Exposure
- Blood Transfusion/Organ Transplant (rarely)
Bodily fluids such as blood, semen, pre-seminal fluid, breast milk, vaginal fluids and rectal mucous contain high levels of the HIV virus. These bodily fluids are were HIV lives and reproduces.
Not all bodily fluids contain enough of the HIV virus to infect you unless they are mixed with blood and you have a significant or direct contact with them. Feces, nasal fluid, saliva, sweat, tears, urine and vomit don't contain enough of the virus to infect someone with HIV.
AIDS is the late stage of the HIV infection. Once a person's immune system is severally damaged and has difficulty fighting diseases and certain cancers they move from having HIV to AIDS. Before the development certain medication people living with HIV would progress into AIDS in a few years. Many life changing medications have been developed and they are allowing people to live much longer with HIV before it develops into AIDS.
After reading the facts above, this goes to show that there are more ways to get HIV than being gay. I loathe stereotypes and I wish they could be thrown out the window. I have found people will search out any kind of stereotype they can find before they search out the truth.
Will you stand up and take the stand with me against this stereotype?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)