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Surviving AIDS: A Day in the Life
For Devondia Roseborough, living with the virus isn't easy, but she's not giving up.
By Cheris Hodges
- Angus Lamond
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AT HOME: Activist Devondia Roseborough relaxes in her West Charlotte home
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"But at the same time, there are things that I can't enjoy because I'm limited. And you shouldn't have to limit yourself. But some of the medication I'm on requires you not to be in the sun for a prolonged period of time. So I can't enjoy the sun like I want to."
Some of her medicine, she says also caused anxiety, but with prayer, she works through it. There were days when she saw the walls in her house move. She once saw a Smurf sit on her shoulder and heard it tell her crazy things. Sometimes, because of the medicine, she couldn't get out of bed. And there were thoughts of suicide. But she has been taken off those medications and that allows her to do more to help others so that they don't end up in her situation.
Devondia takes the lessons she's learned with her as she reaches out to others -- whether it's online, through her MySpace page or e-mail inbox, or at different community events.
For World AIDS Day on December 1, Devondia was at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, but not too many others were there, she says.
Typically, she receives most of her requests to speak around October, November and December -- as World AIDS Day draws near.
"I speak out publicly, when I'm asked," says Devondia. She's been a guest on local urban radio stations like Power 98. She's gone to barbershops. She's even dropped knowledge at sex toy parties.
"I'm a traveling advocate," she says. "I tell my story and I pass out condoms. Wherever the need is, I'm there. And that need is everywhere."
During her downtime from speaking engagements, Devondia reaches out to people on the World Wide Web and puts the finishing touches on her autobiography, which is scheduled to be released in January.
Put It On Paper tells Devondia's story in an uncensored, no-hold-barred format.
"It's funny that in 2001 I started writing a book," she says. "This guy told me, 'Rose, you have so much to talk about, you ought to put it on paper.' In the beginning it was about the scandalous relationships, the heartbreak ... and just dealing with all the situations in my life that was going on. And I knew a lot of people were going through a lot of struggle."
But Devondia put the book down after writing on it for a year and a half. After her diagnosis, however, she began writing it again. And some people asked her why she didn't make the book fictional. Why would she want to put her personal information out there like that?
"I'm a different breed," says Devondia. "I've always been outspoken. I've always been very adamant that whatever I'm going to do, I'm going to do it.
"When I was in the hospital the first of January, 2004 for 22 days and the doctor came in and told me that I had AIDS, I battled back and forth with him. I said 'No, I have HIV.' I could deal with that but having AIDS meant that you were going to die."
Devondia says that as the doctor educated her on her T-Cell count and what she needed to do, she knew that she was going to be all right.
"I said Lord forgive me for my sins, for having unprotected sex, outside of wedlock and not respecting his temple. So, I asked him, whatever it is you want me to do I'll do it. Wherever you want me to go, I'll go."
Though Devondia takes responsibility for her choices, she believes that everything else that has happened was a part of God's plan.
"I don't blame God for my diagnosis, my choices caused that. But He put the purpose in the plan for what I do."
Devondia still gets approached by men and she has no problem telling them her status ... immediately.
She recalls a time when she was in Eastland Mall and met a guy who didn't seem to listen.
"He came up to me and told me how beautiful I was," she says. That day, Devondia was dressed in a stylish skirt, and the guy let her know that she had beautiful legs.
After telling him thank you, Devondia said he asked her what kind of work she did.
"I told him that I'm an HIV and AIDS advocate, a motivational speaker and I'm working on a book about my life after HIV and before AIDS."
At first, it seemed as if he didn't care about her status and they exchanged numbers. After talking on the phone for a while, he wanted to come visit, but Devondia wouldn't let that happen.
Then one day they were talking on the phone and he said the he was going bite her.
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