Sue-Ann Wallace of the Jamaica Business Council on HIV and AIDS shows participants how to put on a condom, at an HIV seminar held at the The Gleaner Company, last Wednesday. - Peta-Gaye Clachar/photographer

Last year, our series of articles (Diary of an HIV-positive pregnant girl) featured a young woman, Gabrielle, who, at the time, was 19 years old, pregnant with her second child and HIV positive.

Flair followed her sorrowful journey. She experienced a series of mishaps, became pregnant at 17 years old, was nearly raped, faced discrimination from a nurse, and suffered many days of hunger. Plus, to make matters worse, she became pregnant with her second child and had to be caring for her first child and her boyfriend, also HIV-positive for the past 13 years. This was compounded by the fact that she was unemployed.

Thankfully, Gabrielle's baby was born HIV-negative. Flair caught up with her to find out how things were going.

Gabrielle's baby is one year old and, so far, is still HIV-negative. Gabrielle says she had another HIV test done on the baby's birthday and she is currently awaiting that result.

"But, so far, the two tests that have been done are negative. I am hopeful that this one will be negative too," says Gabrielle.

Rough year

She notes that the year has been a rough one, but she is still holding on. The baby has not yet started to eat solid food and only takes milk, which she got free from the clinic up to age six months. "We did not have any food, so my baby had to live on sugar and water for a while."

She says that thankfully, after the doctors informed her that the baby was too thin, he sent her to a nutritionist who extended the period of getting milk until the baby is a year old. Now the child is doing well and eating solid foods.

Gabrielle also told Flair that things really got rough when her boyfriend was hospitalised twice in two months because of chest problems.

"I was the only one taking care of both children and my boyfriend. It was very hard, especially because I was not working."

She is, however, pleased to report that now she has a part-time job, and though things are not as they should be, her family is doing much better. "So I have to be grateful and give God thanks."

And although she did not get the job in time for her son to start school this term, she is hopeful for January.

Anyone who can donate school books or other supplies to Gabrielle, email: keisha.shakespeare@gleanerjm.com.