A new lease on life, made possible through World Vision assistance, inspired this woman in Haiti to help others face the challenges of HIV.

February 2009

By Jessie Lester, World Vision U.S., and Andrea Peer, World Vision U.S.

“I don’t have AIDS; I am HIV-positive,” says 38-year-old Saintamène Merjuste, trying to alleviate her eldest daughter’s worries. Though this mother of four knows just how much havoc this disease can wreak on her body, she also knows that HIV does not have to be a death sentence. “You saw me when I was very sick; I was able to recuperate,” she reminds her children.

'A living wound'

Saintamène fell ill shortly after her first husband’s death, about 12 years ago. “He died with all the symptoms of AIDS — diarrhea, the skin problems, [and] the infections,” she says. But at the time, Saintamène’s community was skeptical of AIDS, not believing that it was a real disease. As a result, her husband didn’t know what kind of treatment to seek or how to prevent from spreading his disease to others. “I had no warning for this illness, and I caught it,” says Saintamène.

She initially tried to deny that she was HIV-positive, but her health deteriorated rapidly. She realized that without treatment, she would end up like her husband. Yet with small children to provide for, she did not have the means to seek proper care.

When Saintamène first met staff from World Vision, her body was covered with sores, and she could not stand without assistance. “I was like a living wound,” she says. Saintamène was so close to death that her family had started planning her funeral.

A restored future

Just as she was giving up hope, World Vision stepped in and began paying for Saintamène’s medical care and providing transportation to the hospital. HIV treatments restored Saintamène’s health, and the encouragement of World Vision staff gave her confidence in her future. “It is true that I take medication, but it is my faith that keeps me going the most,” she says.

Saintamène visits the hospital regularly to receive treatments that are giving her a new lease on life. She now has energy to farm and remain active in her community, and with her new husband, who is also HIV-positive, she is able to provide for her family. “I have been living with HIV in my blood for the past 13 years,” she says, quick to point out that the disease has not gotten the better of her.

Finding encouragement

Nonetheless, life with HIV still has its unique challenges. Saintamène needs extra rest and plenty of food, both of which can be hard to come by while providing for four children. Saintamène grows tired easily, but she works hard so that people in her community will not learn of her status and humiliate her. “It’s a status [that is] very difficult to live with, and we need all the support we can get,” she admits.

Saintamène knows that, for those who are HIV-positive, encouragement is just as important as medical assistance. Without emotional support, it is tempting to simply give up. “I am also encouraged by World Vision people, people like Mrs. Daniella, who helps me and encourages me to go on,” she says. Even when her situation seems overwhelming, Saintamène has reason to hope.

Helping others

Living in a country where more than 190,000 people have HIV and AIDS, Saintamène feels called to share her story, and her hope, with others. “I am motivated by the fact that I have seen the results in me,” she says. Saintamène is educating others about the reality of HIV and helping them understand how it is spread.

She also visits people who are infected with HIV, encouraging them not to give up. “I am on the treatment, and HIV-positive people can have normal lives just as you see me,” she tells them. For many, including one woman who was recently kicked out of her home because of her family’s humiliation, the stigma of HIV is the biggest hindrance to a full life. But along with Daniella, Saintamène is helping individuals like this woman find the support they need to keep going.

Saintamène knows first-hand the potentially deadly impact of HIV, but because she received assistance when it was most critical, her story has become an inspiration to others. “Meeting World Vision was like a miracle, and believe me, if I had not met these people, I would have been dead already,” she says.