Not My Name
“Do you feel sick sometimes?” she asked looking surprised at what she was seeing at the result. I looked up from the bed I lay and fixed my gaze on her as she sat on the sofa opposite the bed.
“do I look sick?” I asked. “that’s what is surprising me. you look more healthy than the result indicated.” “what else did the result indicate?” I asked nonchalantly. Whatever the result said, it wasn’t going to be worse than the positive status I had seen at the bottom of the page.
“well, according to your result, your immune system has been overridden by the hiv virus as shown in your blood count. The white blood cells, responsible for fighting infections has depleted a lot. That’s why I’m surprised that you are still strong and healthy.
You actually should be anemic by now according to this result.” She said. I looked at her, and then playfully acted out as having a convulsion. I shook all my body and sprawled on the bed and she laughed uncontrollably.
“stop jooor.” She said. “this is serious.” And she continued her laughter. “But seriously though, the amount of anti-bodies in your system as shown by this result indicates that the HIV is in an advanced state: you should be having full blown AIDS now if this result is anything to go by.” She said.
“Well, seems I'm stronger than you can imagine.” I said. I wasn't into the medical field, so I don't understand the details contained in a hiv test. “What are anti-bodies?” I asked, just to make a conversation. “What many people call the “AIDS” test is not a test for AIDS at all, but for the antibodies of the HIV which causes AIDS.
Once infected with HIV, the immune system produces antibodies in an attempt to defend itself against HIV. The test identifies these antibodies. Therefore the test is accurately called the “HIV antibody test.” She said.
“So I've got loads of anti-bodies, it means I'm super human.” I tried to joke. “No, it means your body is trying so hard to fight the virus, and its apparent that the virus is winning the war. So your body produces excess antibodies to help fight this war.” She said. “
Can't my body just get an atomic bomb and wipe the bastards!” I continued on the joke. “This is not a joking matter!” She said firmly and I laughed. I've been crying and brooding for weeks now, staying with Esther made me feel better. So I could afford to joke and smile and play. “I'm still surprised you don't have any symptoms with the quantity of anti-body this test shows you have in your body.” She said after I had stopped laughing.
“What symptoms are you talking about.” I asked and she continued her long lecture. “The symptoms of HIV infection are the symptoms of the diseases that attack the body because of a weakened immune system: fever that lasts from a few days to longer than a month, periods of excessive sweating, especially at night, loss of appetite, chronic or long lasting fatigue , weight loss of more than 10% of body weight, muscle and joint pain, unexplained long lasting sore throat, unexplained swollen lymph glands, diarrhea lasting longer than a month with no other disease, lingering infections.
As the immune system becomes more compromised the HIV infected person may acquire opportunistic diseases such as Kaposi's sarcoma, Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, tuberculosis, neurological disorders such as meningitis, and herpes simplex infections.
At this point, the HIV infected person is usually diagnosed with AIDs.” Well, I had none of those symptoms. Maybe they will start gradually, I thought to myself. She looked back at the test result and continued scanning through it. “You have the same blood group as my dad.” She said.
“so your dad is O+” I asked. “B-. that is what your test result showed.” I looked up like a wave of lightning just blew across my face. She was alerted as well. “
I am O+, all my siblings are O+, and so is my mum. . .” I said as I stood up from the bed and moved towards her at the couch. “it said B – here.” She said, pointing at the small column for blood group for me to see. I snatched the report from her hands and scanned through it properly, this time around, I didn’t jump down to the status as I had done that day at the lab. - Blood group B- - “my blood group is O+” I moved to the columns on top - Age: 35 years – who the fvck is 35 years? - Address: 19 Ajebola Street – who the fvck stays at Ajebola street? - Name: Sulleman Yusuf – “THAT IS NOT MY NAME! ! ! ! ! ! !”<
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Please note that names used on this work are not real but are doctored for the sole purpose of the work. Any resemblance to a real name is solely an act of co-incidence; there is no intent for blackmail, blacklist or embarrassment whatsoever. Thanks
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I stood staring at the hiv result I had in my hands! A hiv result belonging to another guy had been given to me and I never knew.
How could I have missed such important detail? Down at the lab, I had been alerted when the receptionist took the report to the lab scientist. I had skipped the columns for personal info after the lab scientist had told me my status and took my eyes straight down to the bottom page to check the status as I had earlier seen in chifawu’s.
Standing inside my room that faithful day, I was overwhelmed with mixed reaction. A part of me was relieved that the result wasn’t mine, and another part cursed me for being so stupid.
I had lived with hiv for 3 weeks, a hiv that didn’t belong to me! I stared at my angel sitting on the sofa and looking at me. it was obvious that she too was perplexed. “How did you miss this important detail; your biodata?” she questioned.
“we have to go to the school of health for another test.” She said and stood up. But I couldn’t move! Few weeks back, a girl had dragged me to do a hiv test and the result nearly killed me. Here again, barely ten minutes after gaining my life back, someone wants to drag me to the lab for another test.
“I’m not going anywhere!” I declared. How dare she! I just got my life back and she wants to take it away from me again. “you must do a second test to end all these confusion.” She said to me.
“What if it turns out positive again?” I asked almost in tears. She stood and faced me, looking deep into my eyes. “I’m not giving up on you, either positive or negative.” She said to me. Then I made up my mind to do a second test.
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I stayed at the waiting room inside the school of health and waited for my result. I had done the test the previous day, together with Esther, who helped me in filling the forms and other small things required.
My heart was pounding fast as I waited patiently. Esther left her unit to join me at the waiting room. “you look tensed.” She observed. “no, I’m not.” I lied.
I couldn’t imagine what will be my fate if the result turns out positive again. The receptionist, came out from the lab with bundles of test results. I waited patiently as she sorted them out, then invited me to come for mine. I picked it from her desk. It was stapled as she handed it to me, with my name boldly written at the folded back page.
I stood, my heart pounding fast. I handed the result to Esther, who stood beside me. “Open it.” I said to her. She opened it and read through the contents before looking up to me with a sad expression. She looked disappointed and I feared the worst had happened. My heart was about to explode out from my heart. Then her expression changed and she smiled as she handed the result back to me.
“it’s negative.” I grabbed the paper and scanned through it, ensuring it had the correct biodata. Then I found the column for the summary. It listed some test results based on count of antibodies. Then the summary was that I was hiv negative. I was so overwhelmed with joy that I hugged Esther. She didn’t anticipate it, neither did she hold back. She held me firmly as we stood on the centre of the waiting room, oblivious of others inside the room. “
you are my angel.” I whispered into her ears as I held her tight on my body. She laughed and pulled herself out finally. “this calls for celebration.” She said.
“of course, and I’m celebrating it with you.” I said. “I will be waiting for you in my room.” I informed her as she saw me off. “I will try and finish up on time.” She said and I headed home to my room, a new person, a changed man, full of life and vigour.