This article was written in 2009 while I was working for World Vision Cambodia.
Title: HIV and AIDS patient
Phea starts new life
Phea, 37, has HIV and AIDS. He
got it from a secret lover when he worked away from home. Just by looking at
him, nobody would know that he has the dreaded disease.
Learning painfully from his experience, Phea would like people to be careful and protect themselves from HIV and AIDs. He wants his story shared to all and make his life an example for all HIV and AIDs patients not to lose hope in life.
“I was a soldier in Anloung Veng district of Oddor Meanchey province located near the border of Cambodia and Thailand. I became suspicious I started having fever and diarrhea very often and felt sick. I took blood testing for HIV and AIDs for three times. On the first test, it never occurred to me had HIV and AIDs. But when I took it for the second time and then the third, I realized I have it,” shares Phea.
“I decided to stop working as soldier and returned my parents’ home. I told all my relatives and parents about my disease but nobody believed in me because I looked healthy and strong. Few years later, I became skinny and scabs covered my entire body. Since then, nobody talked to me or invited me for any party or important ceremony in the village,” adds Phea.
Phea told his story as his wife sat near him. “I became hopeless and depressed because of discrimination. I felt really ashamed to everyone in the village. I badly needed encouragement and support, but I didn’t know where to get them.”
Ashamed of his condition, Phea refused to meet with his wife and children. He was always afraid other people would think ill of him. Despite all this, Phea’s wife, Kim, always called and strongly encouraged him to return home, assuring him she does not mind his having HIV and AIDS. Eventually, Phea returned home, bearing the brunt of being shunned by villagers.
“Once when I got very sick, my wife drove me by motorcycle to the hospital. It was raining hard and dark at that time. The road was very slippery that the motorcycle hit a dog was running across the road. The motorcycle skidded and my wife’s leg was broken. I felt bad for her and I blamed myself for making her undergo this situation. It makes me more determined to compensate back the support that my family provides for me unconditionally. My wife can now walk but she cannot do heavy work because her leg still hurts,” sadly says Phea.
Phea got involved in World Vision in 2007 through the HIV and AIDS project. The project provided him with transportation expenses to get treatment and awareness through People Living With HIV and AIDs (PLHA) Project. After going through seminars, Phea has committed to become a good husband and father and vowed not let HIV and AIDs destroy his children’ future. His wife has become a powerful encouragement for him. Now, his wife stays at home and takes care of the children while he works in the farm. Sometimes she goes to the farm and helps him.
Phea has been working hard from dawn till dusk everyday to generate income for his family. He has learned to ignore any discrimination or gossip-mongers in the village, or even his relatives who think ill of him. He plans to earn and save money to build a big house for his family, especially for his two sons.
“I have never let my wife do heavy work. If she goes to the farm with me, she does not do anything but just accompany me because of her broken leg. Having her around gives me more strength to work hard. I love her and my family,” says Phea while his wife listens shyly.
“I got upset and cried a lot when I learned my husband got HIV and AIDs. But I love him and I want him to live with our two sons to start a new life. I am so happy now because he works very hard, even helping me cook sometimes. He has become a good husband and father,” affirms Phea’s wife, Kim, 35.
Phea now is happily building a new built-house for his family. He has learned a lot from PHLA on how to not transmit the disease to his wife. His foremost dream is for his children to complete their studies and get good jobs. Phea’s relationship with villagers has improved. Phea continues to advise others who face the same his condition to be hopeful and strong.
NOTE: All names in this article were changed.
Learning painfully from his experience, Phea would like people to be careful and protect themselves from HIV and AIDs. He wants his story shared to all and make his life an example for all HIV and AIDs patients not to lose hope in life.
“I was a soldier in Anloung Veng district of Oddor Meanchey province located near the border of Cambodia and Thailand. I became suspicious I started having fever and diarrhea very often and felt sick. I took blood testing for HIV and AIDs for three times. On the first test, it never occurred to me had HIV and AIDs. But when I took it for the second time and then the third, I realized I have it,” shares Phea.
“I decided to stop working as soldier and returned my parents’ home. I told all my relatives and parents about my disease but nobody believed in me because I looked healthy and strong. Few years later, I became skinny and scabs covered my entire body. Since then, nobody talked to me or invited me for any party or important ceremony in the village,” adds Phea.
Phea told his story as his wife sat near him. “I became hopeless and depressed because of discrimination. I felt really ashamed to everyone in the village. I badly needed encouragement and support, but I didn’t know where to get them.”
Ashamed of his condition, Phea refused to meet with his wife and children. He was always afraid other people would think ill of him. Despite all this, Phea’s wife, Kim, always called and strongly encouraged him to return home, assuring him she does not mind his having HIV and AIDS. Eventually, Phea returned home, bearing the brunt of being shunned by villagers.
“Once when I got very sick, my wife drove me by motorcycle to the hospital. It was raining hard and dark at that time. The road was very slippery that the motorcycle hit a dog was running across the road. The motorcycle skidded and my wife’s leg was broken. I felt bad for her and I blamed myself for making her undergo this situation. It makes me more determined to compensate back the support that my family provides for me unconditionally. My wife can now walk but she cannot do heavy work because her leg still hurts,” sadly says Phea.
Phea got involved in World Vision in 2007 through the HIV and AIDS project. The project provided him with transportation expenses to get treatment and awareness through People Living With HIV and AIDs (PLHA) Project. After going through seminars, Phea has committed to become a good husband and father and vowed not let HIV and AIDs destroy his children’ future. His wife has become a powerful encouragement for him. Now, his wife stays at home and takes care of the children while he works in the farm. Sometimes she goes to the farm and helps him.
Phea has been working hard from dawn till dusk everyday to generate income for his family. He has learned to ignore any discrimination or gossip-mongers in the village, or even his relatives who think ill of him. He plans to earn and save money to build a big house for his family, especially for his two sons.
“I have never let my wife do heavy work. If she goes to the farm with me, she does not do anything but just accompany me because of her broken leg. Having her around gives me more strength to work hard. I love her and my family,” says Phea while his wife listens shyly.
“I got upset and cried a lot when I learned my husband got HIV and AIDs. But I love him and I want him to live with our two sons to start a new life. I am so happy now because he works very hard, even helping me cook sometimes. He has become a good husband and father,” affirms Phea’s wife, Kim, 35.
Phea now is happily building a new built-house for his family. He has learned a lot from PHLA on how to not transmit the disease to his wife. His foremost dream is for his children to complete their studies and get good jobs. Phea’s relationship with villagers has improved. Phea continues to advise others who face the same his condition to be hopeful and strong.
NOTE: All names in this article were changed.
-Ends-
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