Me Living with HIV
Hi, my name is Ray Outlaw. I am 45 years old and I was diagnosed with hiv/aids at the age of 36, in 2015. It was the worst day of my life. My mother was with me. I was so weak, I had lost so much weight. From 240 lbs down to 124 lbs in just a dew months. I could hardly walk. I literally thought I was going to die.
The first day I was diagnosed with AIDS
The day I was diagnosed my mother and I was setting in the examining room at the doctor's office waiting. The doctor came in and sat down. His first words were, it's not cancer, you have full blown aids. My heart stopped. A tear ran down my face, I looked up at my mother and saw her crying. I broke down with tears. My Dr immediately sent me to the CDC for treatment. That day I had learn so much more about hiv and being diagnosed with hiv. All though it took 2 months for the Dr to get me on my meds, I knew I wasn't going to die, I was going to be okay. When I finally get my meds I was so grateful. I immediately started taking them.
With treatment I will live a healthy life
3 months later I had gained 45 pounds back. And I was hiv undetectable. I knew I would life a long healthy life. To this day I'm as healthy as ever. I have not missed one dose of my medication. I have so much support. I've been married, divorced and married again. My husband now is negative and actually works for an agency called ASC (Aids Services Coalition). He is my biggest and greatest support system.
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