Monday, February 14, 2011

Your Help Needed

I'm considering adding a page to the blog. I would like to make a page for families who have newly adopted or are considering adopting a child with HIV. I would like to talk about things that I've learned over the past 9 years such as how to get a child to practice swallowing pills so that they can go from liquid meds to pill form. Or how if you have a med that needs refrigeration, most amusement parks such as Dis*ney, have a first aid station where they will refrigerate your meds for you during the day. Or maybe answers to questions for those considering adopting a child with HIV.

So, here's where you come in. If you were thinking of adopting a child with HIV, what would you want to know? Or what questions do you have even as an "outsider"? What would you like to see on a page like this? Any help and/or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

5 comments:

Megan said...

Very cool! I think that what I would be most interested in seeing is some cost estimates of medical expenses. We changed over to a high deductible plan and it would be nice to know medication costs, etc. Also- wondering if you disclose HIV to your child's school and why you chose to or not to and pros and cons of each. And while I'm at it- biggest joy and biggest challenge of raising a child with HIV. Thanks, Lisa!

Chantelle said...

Great idea. Would you be willing, also, to write a few 'articles' along those lines for PositivelyAdopted(dot)com? We could use a few details on those more 'practical' day-to-day aspects.

My daughter came to me already easily taking pills so I haven't had any experience with liq. meds, babies taking the meds, refrigeration, etc.

I would love to see a page like this! I'm open (and would love to) adopt an HIV+ child, but am waiting for my other half to get on board. I'm going to come up with some questions and shoot them over. Though Megan did ask a few questions I had (mainly the medical).

I just read your post about Braedon's medications, rages, etc. Thank you for sharing this. I know Victor needs something to help regulate his mood swings, short attention span, etc., but we don't know where to start. It's that fine line between "he does it because he's from an institution and it's to be expected" and "he has chemical imbalances and needs help."

*sigh* Thank you, Lisa, for all of your support and encouragement!! :)
xoxo, Kari

I'd love a page like this! We are open to adopting children with HIV and hear that HIV can be managed with medication, but I'm interested in what this actually means. What form is the medication (pills, injections, ???), how frequently is it normally given. I know this all may sound juvenile, but I feel pretty clueless going into this!
Thanks!

Post a Comment

Let's Connect!

Search This Blog

Followers

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

Olivia - 14

Braeden - 11

Braeden - 11

Liam - 9

Liam - 9

Macy - 5

Macy - 5

Check out my Teachers Pay Teachers store!

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

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


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