In 2010 I started work in an HIV clinic. Part of my job was finding new patients. So I had my boss buy me a bunch of HIV test kits and I put a sign—free HIV testing—outside our door. We were right across the street from a Metro stop, so every week I’d get a few people who walked in. I remember one week I had four people test positive. I got them all in the clinic as patients, and within a month three were dead because they had come in late, when they only had a few t-cells left. Gladly, I can say that this was the exception. I realize that many people out there who haven’t tested, aren’t getting tested because they’re afraid. They worry that they’ll be like this 👇🏽 doctor’s patient: they’ll come in and be diagnosed with AIDS. They don’t know how they will tell their family. They think they’ll bring shame to their home. They don’t know how they will cover the cost. They’re afraid their work will find out and they’ll loose their job. These kinds of stories of HIV-related death are not helping. They make those afraid of a positive result stay away from the places that can save their life. The risky sex has already happened. They expect thier doctor to shame them. These people don’t need shame or fear. They need their feelings acknowledged. Yes, a positive result is bad, but spending a lifetime waiting to get sick is worse. The good news is that you’re not the first. You have blood sibling out here that have gone through the same experience, and we’re here to help ❤️ And my fourth patient? He’s living his best possible life. He found his dream job. He’s healthy and undetectable. He takes his daily pill and he’s moved on.