Photo: Jon Hrusa

The medical advancements the Foundation has funded and supported throughout the years have created an irrepressible new emotion for those infected with HIV: Hope. All over the United States and around the world, adults and children are learning to live with the mental and physical effects of this life-shattering disease, and they're doing so with strength and grace. Learn about the various ways HIV/AIDS influences daily life from firsthand accounts written by friends of the Foundation. We wouldn't be surprised if their stories inspire you to join in the fight against pediatric HIV/AIDS and illness.

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More Stories of Hope

Olivier
Rwanda

Photos by James Pursey

My name is Olivier Tuyizere. I’m 19 years old and I live in Kigali, Rwanda. I attend the Masaka Health Center, which is supported by the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.

Olivier on the shores of Lake Kivu, at the December 2009 Ariel Children's Camp.

I never knew my father or my mother — they died long ago. I used to live with my grandmother but she moved away and left me alone. I now live on my own, in the house that belonged to my parents.

A few years ago, my younger sister became very sick and had sores that wouldn’t heal. She eventually took an HIV test and discovered she was HIV-positive. But by the time we learned her status it was too late — she wasn’t able to access treatment, and she died in 2006.

After my sister died, people began stigmatizing me and telling me I had the same illness she had. I was very afraid but I finally decided to go to the clinic and get tested, to find out if what people were saying was true. I was 16 years old.

I went to the Masaka Health Center and met Jocelyne, my HIV counselor. She tested me and informed me that I was HIV-positive. I was surprised because I had never been sick. But I trusted Jocelyne because she was young, like me. She told me that there are many other children like me who are living with HIV.

After learning my status, I lost hope. I was afraid and I began to lose weight — I thought I was going to die. But Jocelyne continued to support me and even visited my home. After two months, I returned to the clinic for testing and found that the virus was affecting my health. I enrolled into treatment and started taking antiretroviral medications (ARVs).

When I began taking ARVs regularly, I regained my health. Then I looked around at other people, and realized I was no different from them. I regained my hope.

Since I live on my own, it has been hard for me to get an education and make a living for myself. But with help from friends, I earned a certificate to work in a hotel and got a job as a server. I made a good salary and saved money for school fees. I am now in Secondary 5 and studying computer science; my grades are vey good. I am also running my own small business.

My vision for the future is to continue with school and achieve everything my parents weren’t able to achieve before they died. I am healthy and strong, and I think I will live a long life. I believe I can do anything that anyone else can do.

In December 2009, Olivier attended the Foundation’s Ariel Children’s Camp in Rwanda’s Northern Province. He proved to be an excellent soccer player, runner, and leader of the other children. The camp was important for Olivier because it showed him that there are many other young people in Rwanda who face the same challenges he faces.

Olivier takes a tea break during a soccer match at the Ariel Children's Camp.