TWANA LAWLER

God Healed me of AIDS

 From Despair to Triumph: A Story of Divine Intervention

Getting a positive test result was shocking, especially after ten years of celibacy. During my time in LA County, I suffered from back pain, initially misdiagnosed as kidney disease. After moving to Contra Costa, a doctor suggested testing for HIV despite my doubts. The result was unexpectedly positive.

I remained silent and decided to inform my daughters. I went to pick up my daughter from work; she had questions about the doctor’s visit. They knew that I was tested for HIV. I shared the news, and we began to sob, so I knew it was time to go home and tell my other two daughters. We all cried, and I went straight into denial and depression.

Here are the two diagnoses: lupus and multiple myeloma, neither of which I wanted to hear. I had to confront the truth, but depression kept me from moving forward. I stopped taking my medication, unaware of what would happen next. After three years without medicine, my daughters finally said enough is enough. I had no choice but to go to the clinic.

For three years, I dealt with ringing in my ears. I later discovered that it was connected to AIDS, but I wasn’t aware of that at the time. After returning from the clinic, I had my first seizure upstairs. My two daughters were there; while one panicked, the other responded quickly. AIDS affected my brain, leading to a diagnosis of AIDS with AIDS-related dementia. I lost my memory, had diarrhea, and was hallucinating, and that was scary. Here are the symptoms I experienced.

• Fever.
• Headache.
• Muscle aches and joint pain.
• Rash.
• Sore throat and painful mouth sores.
• Swollen lymph glands, also called nodes, mainly on the neck.
• Diarrhea.
• Weight loss.

I remember one day at my doctor’s office. He was reviewing my lab results when he turned to look at me and my oldest daughter. He seemed shocked and said that I was undetectable. Then, he excused himself and said he would be right back.

He returned with RN, my caseworker, and others. They gathered around and called it a miracle. The nurse mentioned her brother had died from the same condition.I had to relearn everything all over. I had to learn how to operate a cell phone, tie shoes, and put on a bra.

Conclusion

My doctors recommended that my daughters consider admitting me to hospice care, but my family chose a different path. The medical team informed us that if I were to overcome this challenging period, I would need long-term caregiving and might not be able to write again. Despite these concerns, I’m thrilled to share that I have written a play titled “STIGMATIZED.” Since 2013, I have maintained an undetectable status, and my journey has inspired me to become a motivational speaker.

I am proud to say that I am free from AIDS, dementia, and severe depression. I can walk, write, and care for myself. That is the power of the Lord.