Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Information to Share
9:35 PM
As I am now Olivia's legal mom, there is a part of her which as a foster parent I was unable to share. Since becoming in all ways "legal" Olivia and I have decided to no longer keep this part of her life hidden away. On her adoption day I sent out letters to close friends and family letting them know of this part of Olivia's life. Now I share this with you.
Olivia is HIV positive.
You can read more about Olivia and her "condition" on my other, until now anonymous, blog:
hivchild.blogspot.com
I want to help educate the public. I don't want my daughter or others to have to feel like they need to hide a part of who they are. That they have to be ashamed and secretive. People need to know there is nothing to fear. Yes, HIV can be scary, but it is not the death sentence it used to be. Many with HIV are living close to normal life expectancies. HIV is not something you "catch", it is "hard" to "get." There has never been a situation where someone living with a person with HIV has contracted it themselves. It can only be passed in very specific ways.
There are many good websites with good information out there now.
In addition, Olivia will soon be granted a wish through Make a Wish!!! We are so excited! They should be contacting us soon to meet her and start her wish process.
I hope you will continue to support and follow us through our journey.
Olivia is HIV positive.
You can read more about Olivia and her "condition" on my other, until now anonymous, blog:
hivchild.blogspot.com
I want to help educate the public. I don't want my daughter or others to have to feel like they need to hide a part of who they are. That they have to be ashamed and secretive. People need to know there is nothing to fear. Yes, HIV can be scary, but it is not the death sentence it used to be. Many with HIV are living close to normal life expectancies. HIV is not something you "catch", it is "hard" to "get." There has never been a situation where someone living with a person with HIV has contracted it themselves. It can only be passed in very specific ways.
There are many good websites with good information out there now.
In addition, Olivia will soon be granted a wish through Make a Wish!!! We are so excited! They should be contacting us soon to meet her and start her wish process.
I hope you will continue to support and follow us through our journey.
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About Me
I am a single mom to four amazing kids; each of whom just happen to have been adopted. The first three were adopted through foster care, and we just completed an international adoption from Haiti. Our family has grown through adoption and I am all the more blessed to know each of my children. I worship a mighty God, teach Special Ed, love bargains, and am inspired by Pinterest... come along with us for the ride!
Olivia - 14
Braeden - 11
Liam - 9
Macy - 5
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Blog Archive
What you should know about HIV
-HIV can NOT be spread through casual/household contact. HIV is not spread through hugging, kissing, shaking hands, sharing toys, sneezing, coughing, sharing food, sharing drinks, bathing, swimming or any other casual way. It has been proven that HIV and AIDS can only be spread through sexual contact, birth, breastfeeding and blood to blood contact (such as sharing needles).
- HIV is now considered a chronic but manageable disease. With treatment, people who are HIV+ can live indefinitely without developing AIDS and can live long and full lives.
- People who are HIV+ deserve to be treated with love, respect, support and acceptance as all people do.
Additional information on transmission of HIV can be found on the Center for Disease Control website: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources
Other Awesome Blogs
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5 years ago
Orphan Crisis
• 147 million orphans in the world
• 50 million orphans in Africa
• Every 14 seconds a child is orphaned by AIDS
• 16,000,000 have been orphaned by AIDS
• Every week, AIDS claims as many lives as American fatalities in the Vietnam War
• 854 million people do not have enough to eat
• Malnutrition is associated with the deaths of 5 million children under the age of five
• Every 2 seconds an orphan dies from malnutrition
• 50 million orphans in Africa
• Every 14 seconds a child is orphaned by AIDS
• 16,000,000 have been orphaned by AIDS
• Every week, AIDS claims as many lives as American fatalities in the Vietnam War
• 854 million people do not have enough to eat
• Malnutrition is associated with the deaths of 5 million children under the age of five
• Every 2 seconds an orphan dies from malnutrition
Hence the title of my blog
Little Did I Know
Little did I know that the road would be so rocky
Little did I know that the trip would take so long
Little did I know that my heart could hurt so much
Little did I know that God is never wrong
Little did I know that love could be so powerful
Little did I know that a dream so far could go
Little did I know that God would place the right ones
Little did I know that my heart, so large, could grow
Little did I know that a dream has it’s own timing
Little did I know that this day would finally come
Little did I know that four souls would be sent to guide me
Little did I know that they would choose to call me mom
But God knew all along and He had a plan to follow
God knew all along that my dream would soon come true
God knew all along that we five should be together
God knew all along that I’d share it all with you
Little did I know that the road would be so rocky
Little did I know that the trip would take so long
Little did I know that my heart could hurt so much
Little did I know that God is never wrong
Little did I know that love could be so powerful
Little did I know that a dream so far could go
Little did I know that God would place the right ones
Little did I know that my heart, so large, could grow
Little did I know that a dream has it’s own timing
Little did I know that this day would finally come
Little did I know that four souls would be sent to guide me
Little did I know that they would choose to call me mom
But God knew all along and He had a plan to follow
God knew all along that my dream would soon come true
God knew all along that we five should be together
God knew all along that I’d share it all with you
8 comments:
God bless you so much! It has been on my heart to adopt a child with hiv+. I hope that Olivia has the BEST make a wish!
:) I have chills- you are all a lucky bunch to have each other! Just makes me smile. How does cps consider placements for you- do they have to consider Olivia's hiv when placing other children? or is it not an issue?
Julie - I don't think they even take it into consideration. Seeing as I've had two placements since, I don't think it's an issue. They've never said anything about it. :) She is considered specialized, however, which means that she is like two placements. Here in IL we can have up to 6 children total to do foster care. I have four, but since she counts as two I technically have 5 spots filled and could only take one more. After that I could adopt, but no more foster. They COULD make an exception, for example for a sibling of one of mine, but that's it.
That is cool- that at least CPS understands the non- issue of passing it to other children- that is great! :)
Wow I’m not going to lie but I wasn't expecting that. However, as you said it is not shameful and it does not need to be keep a secret. Does she have any idea of what her wish will be?
You are a ROCK. Amazing. So glad she found you..and that you found her. You two will create an awareness and understanding to those who need it.
Best of everything...can't wait to hear about her WISH!
God Bless You! So glad that you and Olivia were brought together and can share your story! Can't wait to hear about her wish!
As a single adoptive parent of special needs children, i feel your joy, your pain and your blessings!
congratulations and may you have many more years of happiness together~c