Professor Gulu’s

TAKE THE TEST

A Young Adult Story on HIV/A IDS

by
Karl A. Floyd,
M.Ed., LPC, ABMPP

UNIVERSAL TIME RELEASE PUBLISHING, L L C.

P.O. Box 18063
Sugar Land, Texas 77496
 Take The Test

This book belongs to:

(My Name)

All Rights Reserved

Copyright © 2008 by Universal Time Release Publishing, LLC
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in
any form or by an y means, electronic or mechanical,
including photocopying, recording, or by an y information
storage or retrieval system without permission in writing
from this publisher.

ISBN # 978-1-60643-143-6
Printed in the United States of America

First Edition

For information or to order additional books, please write:

UNIVERSAL T IME RELEASE PUBLISHING, LLC.
P.O. Box 18063
Sugar Land, Texas 77496
U.S.A

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Contents
1. The Check-in Window …………….. 13

2. Girl Talk …………………………...… 19

3. My Health Screening ………..……... 29

4. Something I Need to Tell You .…….... 41

5. Why Me? …….………….…………… 53

6. Her Final Breath ………………….… 59

7. The Difference Between HIV/AIDS ... 71

Quizzes, Major Myths, and Resources . 83

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Professor Gulu

MORAL AND CH AR ACTER DEVELOPMENT

Teaching children from early and middle

childhood to adolescence how to respond and

make informed decisions under pressure is the

hallmark of Professor Gulu’s moral and character

development learning series.

Each song and book is skillfully crafted to promote

insight and understanding, stimulate creative thinking,

and to equip youth with effective problem-solving skills.

And most importantly, the book and music

learning series has been made affordable for nearly

every family.

Therefore, thank you in advance for supporting

Professor Gulu’s initiative to ensure that every

youth has the opportunity to learn, grow, and to

reach his or her full potential.

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A Message from Professor Gulu

Professor Gulu

The rate of HIV infection in teenagers continues

to grow. There are approximately 2 teenagers every
hour infected with HIV in the United States.
Multiple sexual partners, sharing drug needles, and
unprotected sex are some of the high-risk behaviors
that have lead to the HIV epidemic. Unfortunately,
most teens infected with HIV have one major thing
in common: a lack of awareness about how the
disease is transmitted. To parents, caregivers, and
educators, please empower youth with knowledge,
awareness, and understanding. It’s important to
help youth understand the consequences of the
decisions they choose to make.

Let’s start with education and awareness, and

stop the spread of HIV.

Remember, PLAY IT SAFE!

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Professor Gulu’s

NATIONAL CHILD SAFETY CAMPAIGN

Book and Cerebrophonic Music Collection

Professor Gulu’s book and online Cerebrophonic

music learning series is considered one of the most

spectacular child safety programs on the market,

with sensational songs and literacy tools leading

the way to revolutionizing child safety education

and community health.

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With a focus on fostering positive parent-

child interaction and increasing quality time between

family me mbers, the Professor Gulu’s educational

series provides opportunities to strengthen family

relations and deepen youth insight and understanding

on important safety issues. In addition, the stories

reflect real-life situations, include quizzes,

critically important parent-child safety tips, and

helpful family resources. Each book is also

accompanied by skillfully crafted songs that

listeners can enjoy anytime, anyplace, and anywhere

on Professor Gulu’s Music Learning Center.

Whether it’s tackling fire safety, Internet predators,

gang violence, seat belt safety, or Type 2 diabetes

and obesity, Professor Gulu’s National Child Safety

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Campaign is sure to equip children, parents, and

educators with the strategies and knowledge necessary

to help overcome a multitude of dangerous and

unhealthy behaviors.

And finally, with special emphasis on developing

healthy social, moral, educational and physical

lifestyles, Professor Gulu child safety book and online

Cerebrophonic music learning series is sure to

entertain, educate, and motivate young minds of all

interests and from all walks of life.

THANK YOU for helping us promote child safety.

Professor Gulu Enterprises
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Illustrated by:
Leonard Williams
and
Waajid Branding & Marketing

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I sincerely and profoundly thank every educator,

legislator, healthcare professional and others who

dedicate themselves daily to preventing HIV from

totally ravaging our communities.

I would like to express the deepest appreciation

to my wife, Ann Branch-Floyd, whose guidance,

encouragement, and faith challenged me to reach

new heights. Without her inspiration and persistent

help this book would not have been possible.

Nike Lukan, Vice President of Prevention

Services, AIDS Foundation Houston, Inc., was very

patient in providing factual data and keeping the

story on track. She shared her brilliant insights and

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reviewed the text for relevance and appropriateness.

Finally, very special thanks to my aunt, Barbara

Wright Coleman of Albany, Georgia, for editing

and proofreading.

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1
The Check-in Window

Before all the medical staff arrived, and before the

dentist reviewed his first patient record, Carol

walked through the front office door in excruciating

pain.

The medical assistant stood up as Carol approached

the patient’s check-in window.

“Hi, how can I help you?” the assistant asked

Carol.

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“I know I’m not scheduled to see Dr. Benton

until Wednesday, but I didn’t get any sleep last

night and my pain has become unbearable,” Carol

told the assistant.

Dr. Benton was standing nearby and overheard

Carol complaining to his assistant.

“Please! Can you schedule me in this morning?”

Carol asked, holding her jaw and grimacing in pain.

Dr. Benton approached the reception area.

“Good morning, Carol,” Dr. Benton said

politely. “Well, you’re in luck! My first patient just

called and re-scheduled,” he added. “Come on

back! Let’s see what we can do to make you smile

again,” Dr. Benton stated optimistically.

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“Oh, thank you so much Dr. Benton,” Carol said

with relief.

As Carol sat in the chair, Dr. Benton began to

examine her teeth.

“Ahh… I see what’s causing you so much pain,”

he told Carol. “I don’t see any other alternative. We

need to extract that back molar,” Dr. Benton said.

“Do whatever you need to do Dr. Benton. Just

get rid of the pain,” Carol demanded.

“I know you don’t like needles, so we’ll start

with gas again,” he told Carol.

Dr. Benton placed the mask over Carol’s face

and instructed her to inhale slowly.

“You’re going to feel slightly disoriented and

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somewhat dizzy, but by the time you come around,

you’ll feel one hundred percent better,” Dr. Benton

promised.

After several deep breaths, Carol became highly

sedated as Dr. Benton began to extract her tooth.

However, Carol had not slept last night, and she

quietly drifted off to sleep as the procedure ended.

Not long afterward, Carol felt amazingly

different. She gathered her personal belongings, put

on dark sunglasses, and exited the front door of the

two-story medical building on a bright sunny day.

The patient parking lot was nearly empty as a

small group of black birds nibbled away at

breadcrumbs scattered on the sidewalk. Halfway to

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her car, Carol stopped, reached inside her brown

leather purse, and grabbed her car keys. Without

wasting another moment, she took off, driving

hurriedly back to her home.

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2
Girl Talk

Once she arrived home, Carol went directly to

her bedroom and telephoned two of her closest

girlfriends. The girls were talking excitedly, all on

three-way when Carol all of a sudden offered a

suggestion.

“Let’s have girl-talk. I’ll prepare the popcorn

and the two of you could bring snacks and soft

drinks,” Carol recommended.

“Sounds like a great idea,” Tina replied.

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“Yeah, we’ll be right over,” Sandra added.

Tina and Carol had been close friends ever since

elementary school. Tina had long silky black hair,

brown eyes, and beautiful dimples in her cheeks

when she smiled. She had a great sense of humor,

and an endless appetite for chocolate candy.

Sandra was Carol’s newest friend. Sandra was

witty, tall and slender with a high-pitched voice and

gray-blue eyes. She always talked about boys, and

having her around was a riot.

Before the girls arrived, Carol cleaned her

bedroom and placed a bag of popcorn in the

microwave. The popcorn’s fresh buttery aroma

drifted through the entire house.

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Suddenly, the doorbell rang and Carol answered

the door.

“Good afternoon, princess!” Sandra chirped

happily.

“What’s up?” Tina asked, offering Carol a

chocolate candy bar.

“Thank you. I can always count on you to bring

the chocolates,” Carol commented.

Tina and Sandra stepped through the front door,

took a deep breath, and paused.

“Wow! Are we in a movie cinema?” Tina asked.

“It definitely smells like it,” Sandra remarked

excitedly.

“There’s nothing like the fresh smell of hot

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buttered popcorn,” Carol said.

“Where are your parents?” Tina inquired.

“They’re in New York for the weekend. My dad

purchased two Broadway theatre tickets for my

mo m’s birthday.

“Wow! That’s so cool!” Sandra replied.

“What’s really cool is having the entire house all

to yourself,” Tina exclaimed.

“It’s okay,” Carol said softly. “But I do have a

house-sitter…she went grocery shopping,” Carol

added.

Carol grabbed the bag of hot-buttered popcorn

from the microwave. She ripped open the bag and

poured the popcorn in a large green bowl. The three

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girls headed up the stairway to Carol’s bedroom.

They sat on the floor and placed the large bowl of

popcorn and soft drinks in the middle of them.

“Okay, sis. We usually have girl-talk every other

Friday evening. Why today?” Tina asked curiously.

“Well, you both know that we all agreed not to

keep secrets from each other, right?” Carol asked,

seeking confirmation.

“That’s right, girl. Keeping secrets violates our

first code of sisterhood. So what’s going on?”

Sandra asked, narrowing her eyes sharply at Carol.

“Oooo… sounds like somebody is falling in

love,” Tina snickered, with a naughty expression on

her face.

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“I don’t believe it! I can see it all over your face.

Nathan has asked you to go to the prom with him,”

Sandra uttered out loud. “How lucky! Oh, I envy

you,” Sandra added.

“Everybody can’t date the number one college-

bound football player in the region,” Tina said

smugly.

“Hey, he’s not only the number one college pick,

he’s the quarterback!” Sandra sputtered in a high,

shrill voice.

“Girl, if you’re going to the prom with Nathan,

all eyes are going to be on you,” Tina said

enviously. And guess what? I saw the perfect dress

for you in the mall, “Tina said excitedly.

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Sandra and Tina appeared overjoyed.

“Let’s toast!” Sandra proposed.

Sandra and Tina reached for their soft drinks

before they noticed tears streaming down Carol’s

face.

“Carol, what’s wrong? Why are you crying?”

Sandra asked.

“I don’t know how to say this,” Carol said

tearfully. “There’s just no easy way to do it,” she

added, wiping her tears with a paper napkin.

“Please tell me you’re not pregnant,” Tina said,

caressing the back of Carol’s hand.

Carol glared at Tina and took a deep breath.

“No, Tina. I’m not pregnant,” Carol replied.

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“Oh, what a relief!” Tina murmured, sounding

breathless.

The bedroom was absolutely silent as Tina and

Sandra waited for Carol to speak.

“Something’s really wrong, huh?” Tina said,

breaking the silence in a concerned tone of voice.

“I visited my doctor for a health screening. We

talked about nutrition, sleeping habits, and my

relationship with Nathan. He wanted to know if I

was sexually active, and I said “yes.” He then

asked if we both always used protection. I told him

“sometimes.” Well, my doctor ordered laboratory

tests and he shared the result with me a few days

ago.”

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Carol’s hands started to tremble.

“I can’t believe this has happened to me!” Carol

uttered pitifully.

“What? What has happened to you?” Sandra

asked.

“I’m HIV positive!” Carol blurted out

shamefully.

“You’re what?” Tina asked, with a shocked look

on her face.

“Carol, please tell me you didn’t say what I

thought you said,” Sandra cried out, finding it

almost impossible to believe.

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3
My Health Screening

Sandra and Carol had become the best of friends.

Carol glared at Sandra and took a deep breath.

“I’m HIV positive,” Carol repeated, trembling

as tears started to pour down her face.

“No, this isn’t happening,” Tina cried, holding

her face in the palms of her hands.

“I don’t know what to do. This whole thing

Seems like one big nightmare!” Carol expressed

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sadly.

Sandra stood up and began to pace the floor with

a blank expression on her face.

“Sandra… Sandra, are you okay?” Carol asked.

“I’m okay. I’m okay because you’re not

HIV positive,” Sandra answered, refusing to accept

Carol’s diagnosis. “It’s simple! I’m sure the doctor

made a mistake. We all know that no one’s perfect.

The doctor simply made a mistake!” Sandra cried

out painfully.

Carol stood up, placed her arms around Sandra,

and gave her a big hug.

“Sandra, you’re like the sister I always wanted.

Right now, I really need you to be strong for me

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because I’m having a hard time coping with this,”

Carol told her.

“None of us have the strength to deal with it

alone, but we’ll work it out together. Somehow,

we’ll find a way,” Tina commented.

The three girls sat crying for a while before

they resumed their talk.

“I just don’t get it! How could this happen

to you?” Tina asked. “You’ve only known Nathan

for a short time, and you broke up with Larry

two years ago,” she added.

“Didn’t you tell us that Larry was secretly dating

other girls behind your back?” Sandra asked Carol.

“Yes, I did. I caught him cheating on me one too

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many times. I told him I could not stand by and

watch him continually disrespect me, so I broke up

with him,” Carol said sadly.

“Do you think…?” Tina uttered before being

interrupted.

“There’s no doubt about it! Larry was my first,”

Carol told them.

“Well, you just can’t tell from physical

appearance who’s infected with HIV,” Tina

commented.

“Yeah, I guess I had to learn the hard way,”

Carol responded in a somber tone of voice.

“Unfortunately, those who don’t know they are

infected and engage in unprotected sex will continue

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to spread the HIV virus,” Sandra stated.

“Yeah, and I’m living proof of that,” Carol

murmured pitifully. “But how do I explain this to

Nathan?” Carol asked.

“Carol, you should have used protection,” Tina

replied. “You’ve only known Nathan for a short

period of time,” Tina confronted her.

“I’ll never agree to be sexually involved with

anyone unless we’re both tested for HIV first,”

Sandra said. “Without HIV testing, no one can be

absolutely sure who has HIV,” she added.

“Carol, did you and Nathan ever talk about

taking the HIV test before getting sexually

involved?” Tina asked.

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“Unfortunately, no,” Carol replied, looking very

upset.

“I know you and countless others have heard

what I’m about to say time and time again, but still

some don’t seem to take the message seriously,”

Sandra commented. “AIDS is an epidemic and a

major health problem, especially in the

African-American community. My health teacher

said that everyone, including married couples and

those in monogamous relationships, need to be

tested annually if they have unprotected sex,”

Sandra told Carol.

“My new boyfriend and I recently took the HIV

antibody test. We were both nervous and afraid as

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as we anxiously awaited our test results. The doctor

informed us that our feelings were normal and a

common emotional reaction following an HIV antibody

test. However, the doctor praised us for making a

wise decision and having the courage to face our

fears,” Tina said.

“You never told me you had taken an HIV test,”

Carol said, looking surprised.

“No, I didn’t, and now I regret not having told

you. Perhaps I could have persuaded you and

Nathan to take the test. Carol, waiting for my HIV

test results was a frightening experience for me.

Every minute seemed like a century, and the night

before the test I tossed and turned in bed all night

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long. Right before I received my results, I prayed

and promised I’d never risk my life again by engaging

in unprotected sex,” Tina said.

“Wow! It’s important that we encourage all our

friends and family members to take the test . How

long did it take before you received your test

results?” Carol asked.

“We took the rapid HIV antibody test and

received our test results within an hour. A small

finger stick sample of blood was used to perform the

test. I was so relieved that my test was negative for

HIV. However, in some instances, HIV can take a

while to show up on a test. Did you know some

infected people can still test negative for HIV 1 or 2

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months after being infected? And that a small

number of others may test negative up to 6

months?” Tina asked Carol.

“Wow!” Carol responded.

“Unfortunately, during this period, HIV infected

people can still spread the virus,” Tina said.

“My health teacher said that HIV infected people

test negative because their bodies have not yet

produced antibodies. The HIV antibody tests were

designed to detect the presence of antibodies to the

virus,” Sandra told them. “Generally, taking a HIV

test 3 months after possible exposure will give an

individual results that are reportedly 99% accurate,”

Sandra added.

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“So in order to prevent the spread of HIV,

people need to take the test,” Carol stated.

“And because HIV doesn’t always show up

immediately on tests, it’s important to always use

protection,” Tina commented, feeling relieved

about her test result.

“You’re absolutely right. No one should ever

underestimate the importance of taking the test and

always using protection,” Carol concurred.

“Listen, after all the conversations about HIV

with my parents, youth minister, and in my health

class, I decided the best thing for me is to be

abstinent. I don’t have to worry about HIV,

STDs, nor pregnancy. Abstinence is safest,” Sandra

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remarked.

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4
Something I Need to Tell You

Minutes later, the girls finished their talk and

headed downstairs. Tina and Sandra gathered their

purses and gave Carol a big hug before saying

goodbye and walking out of the front door. Carol

locked the door behind them and then sat quietly on

the living room sofa. She gazed at the family photo

album underneath the coffee table when suddenly

the doorbell rang.

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“Who is it?” Carol cried out loud.

“It’s me!” Carol heard a deep voice from the

outside.

Carol opened the front door and appeared

surprised.

“What’s wrong? Did you forget our date?”

Nathan asked.

“Oh, Nathan, you got to give me a few minutes

to get dressed,” Carol told him.

“What? You look just fine. Come on, Carol,

let’s go!” Nathan commanded politely.

“Wait a minute! There’s something very

important we need to talk about,” Carol said

nervously.

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Carol took a deep breath and looked deeply into

Nathan’s dark brown eyes.

“Yeah, what is it? What could be more important

than strolling along the warm, sandy beach with the

prettiest girl on the coast,” Nathan expressed

affectionately.

Carol remained silent. She approached Nathan,

took him by the hands, and laid her head on his

right shoulder.

“Carol, what’s wrong?” Nathan asked in a

concerned tone of voice.

Nathan gently placed his hands on Carol

shoulders, causing her to raise her head.

“Oh, no! Please tell me this is not what I’m

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thinking,” he speculated anxiously.

“Well, I’m not pregnant if that’s what you’re

thinking,” Carol whispered softly.

“Oh, boy! What a relief! You had me on pins

and needles there for a moment,” Nathan stated,

sounding breathless. “I recall you having said you

were on birth control, right?” he asked her.

“Yes, but I only wish we had both used

protection,” Carol replied, with tears welling up in

her eyes.

“Carol, what are you trying to say?” he asked,

looking bewildered. “What’s the problem? Have I

done something wrong?” he asked, prying a little

deeper. “Please talk to me!” Nathan insisted.

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Carol remained silent and began to gently bite

her bottom lip. This is unbelievable, she thought.

He’s starting to think he has done something

wrong… that he has hurt me somehow.

Sighing with disappointment, she pulled away

from Nathan and walked toward the sofa.

“Come, sit beside me,” she commanded in a soft

tone of voice. “There’s something I need to tell

you,” she said.

Nathan sat next to Carol and wiped her tears

with his finger.

“Whatever it is, I want you to know that you can

trust me,” he told her.

Carol raised her head and glared deeply into

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Nathan’s eyes.

“I want you to promise me something first,” she

requested, her heart still pounding.

“Okay, promise what?” he asked.

“I need you to promise me that you’ll never hate

me,” she said tearfully.

“Oh, Carol, how could I ever hate you?” Nathan

commented, looking puzzled. “Hey, listen! When I

told you that I’ll always be there for you, I meant

every word of it,” Nathan declared, sounding

sincere.

Carol sighed. She glanced at Nathan and

dropped her head.

“I’m HIV positive,” Carol whispered softly.

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The room was absolutely silent. Nathan

appeared frozen in time, not moving a muscle.

“Nathan…” Carol called out his name nervously.

Carol shivered with fear as Nathan failed to

respond.

She touched his knee, hoping to get a reaction.

Nathan slowly stood to his feet.

“What did you say?” he asked Carol, his face

knotted in a furious frown.

Carol leaned back on the sofa, her eyes wide

with fear.

“I’m HIV positive,” she repeated.

“No—you can’t be!” he replied, prancing the

floor aimlessly.

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“Oooh… you’re good!” Nathan exclaimed, with

a look of denial on his face. “Tell me! Who put you

up to this silly prank?” he asked.

Carol stood up, shrugged her shoulders, and

remained silent.

“No way. You’re just teasing me— right,

Carol?”

Carol looked away and dropped her head in

tears.

At that moment, Nathan realized that Carol was

not joking.

“This is unreal!” Nathan exclaimed. “This can’t

be happening to me,” he cried out painfully.

“Oh, Nathan, I am so sorry,” Carol apologized,

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looking pitiful.

“Sorry? You’re sorry? Do you know what

you’ve done?” he shouted angrily. “How could I

have been so careless? I didn’t use protection!” he

cried out in agony.

“Nathan, will you please calm down?” she asked

him politely.

“Calm down? You’re asking me to calm down?”

he cried out in a voice hoarse with rage. “Carol, do

you understand what it means to be HIV

positive?” he asked her.

Tears streamed down Carol’s face. She was

overcome with tremendous guilt.

“I don’t know what to say. I—I didn’t know I

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had the virus,” she stammered. “I’m so sorry,

Nathan. I honestly didn’t know,” she cried out loud,

dropping to her knees.

“What am I supposed to do? How do I explain

this to my parents?” Nathan whispered to himself,

pacing the floor.

“Because you didn’t use protection, it’s

important that you take the test,” Carol suggested

softly.

“Take The Test?” Nathan repeated angrily.

“Yes. If you don’t have the virus, you won’t

spend month after month being afraid and worrying

unnecessarily,” Carol explained.

“And if I am HIV positive?” Nathan asked.

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“Then you’ll need to see your doctor. Nathan,

it’s easy to be in denial and pretend like none of

this is real, but my doctor said it’s better to know

your status,” Carol replied.

“This whole thing is unbelievable,” Nathan

responded.

“I know it sounds so mind-boggling. But if you

don’t know your status and continue to have

unprotected sex, you may become awfully sick and

even infect others,” Carol told him.

“I need to get out of here! This is just too much

for me to handle,” he muttered under his breath.

“Nathan, please—don’t leave me alone!” Carol

cried out loud, sorrowfully pleading.

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“I need to go before I say something I’ll regret,”

he told her, hurrying toward the front door.

Nathan immediately looked back and stared at

Carol in disbelief. He shook his head from side to

side, opened the front door and slammed it behind

him.

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5
Why Me?

Carol sat on the sofa and sobbed profusely. She

was deeply hurt and terribly confused about where

to turn for help.

“I can’t believe I’m HIV positive. Why me?…

of all people,” Carol whined, finding it almost

impossible to believe.

Carol walked to her parents’ bathroom, dried her

tears with a face cloth, and opened the medicine

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cabinet. She saw several bottles of medication on

the top two shelves, including her father’s muscle

relaxers.

“I know taking other peoples’ medication is

wrong, but I just need something to relax me,”

Carol murmured, feeling desperate.

Carol moaned as she searched through the

medicine cabinet for something to ease her

emotional turmoil.

She picked up her father’s muscle relaxers and

saw a small bottle of sleeping pills on the lower

shelf. Her eyes welled up with tears again as she

lowered her head and began to pray.

“Oh, please forgive me for what I have done.

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I’m only 18 years old … why me?” Carol cried

pitifully. “I ask one small favor—that Nathan be

protected from this disease,” Carol requested as she

ended her prayer.

Carol’s hands trembled as she opened the bottle

of muscle relaxers.

“Maybe these pills will help me to fall asleep

and relax,” she whispered softly to herself.

Carol poured several pills into her left hand,

accidentally dropping a couple down the bathroom

sink.

“Just like the pills, my life has gone down the

drain,” she snickered… with tears streaming down

her face.

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Carol took a couple of her father’s muscle

relaxers and grabbed the bottle of sleeping pills

from the second shelf. She opened the bottle of

sleeping pills and swallowed several of the pills

simultaneously. She exited her parents’ bathroo m

with a dejected look on her face. She entered the

living room and sat on the sofa.

Minutes later, Carol began to experience intense

stomach cramps. She felt a wave of dizziness sweep

over her. Attempting to ignore the pain, Carol

grabbed a fashion magazine from the coffee table.

“Whoa!” she agonized, dropping the magazine

to the floor.

Carol had not anticipated the medication would

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cause intense pain and abdominal cramping.

Suddenly, her breathing became abnormal as her

eyes bulged and her heart raced.

“Oh, no!” Carol cried, struggling to catch her

breath.

“What have I done? How can I stop the pain?”

She cried out desperately.

Carol stood to her feet and struggled to keep her

balance.

“I better dial 911,” she gasped in excruciating

pain as she fell to the floor.

Just then, the doorbell rang.

Carol could hear faint voices from outside her front

door. She raised her head from the floor and

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crawled slowly towards the door. Carol made it to the

door, reached up, and unlocked the deadbolt.

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6
Her Final breath

Tina and Sandra entered the house as Carol took

her final breath and fell unconscious.

“Carol!” Tina cried out hysterically.

“No!” Sandra screamed, her eyes wide with alarm.

“What’s wrong with her?” Tina asked.

Sandra dropped to her knees and tried to awaken

Carol. Carol did not respond.

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“Oh, no! She’s not breathing, and I don’t feel a

pulse,” Sandra cried in a panic-stricken tone. “Go!

Dial 911! Hurry!” She instructed Tina.

Sandra performed CPR as Tina dialed 911 and

requested emergency medical assistance.

Tina returned and found Sandra still attempting

to revive Carol.

Tears welled up in Sandra’s eyes as

Carol showed no signs of coming around.

“Hey, come on! Help me! I’m getting tired. I’ll

continue the chest compressions and you help her

breathe,” Sandra commanded, sounding almost

breathless.

“You mean mouth to mouth?” Tina asked, her

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voice trembling.

“Yeah. You got a problem with that?” Sandra

asked. “Because if you do, we’re going to lose our

best friend,” Sandra replied, with tears streaming

down her face.

“I…I,” Tina stammered repeatedly.

“There’s not enough time left to think about it.

You either help now or it’s all over. I can’t continue to

do this alone; I’m too tired,” Sandra told her.

Tina kneeled on the floor, tilted Carol’s head back,

and glared nervously at Sandra.

“I don’t think I can do this,” Tina whispered softly,

choking on her words.

Sandra gave Tina a cold, hard stare.

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“Don’t you know anything about HIV/AIDS?

The risk of transmitting the virus from mouth to mouth

resuscitation is only possible if blood is

present,” Sandra explained. “But if it makes you feel

too uncomfortable, I understand. So you do the chest

compressions and I’ll help her breathe,” Sandra said

compassionately.

Sandra squeezed Tina’s right-hand gently as

the two girls switched positions and re-started CPR.

Minutes later, paramedics and police officers

rushed into the home and offered assistance.

Another officer entered the bathroom and

found two open bottles of medication on the

bathroom’s sink.

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“I believe she took these pills,” the officer

stated, holding up the medication bottles.

The paramedics placed Carol on a gurney and

transported her to the hospital’s emergency room.

Meanwhile, at Carol’s home, two law enforcement

officers took written statements from Sandra and Tina

who explained what they knew about the incident.

“With today’s new medications and drug treatment,

a person with HIV can live a relatively long life,”

the officer told Sandra and Tina. “Perhaps there

was something much more troubling than just

discovering she was HIV positive,” the officer

speculated.

“Carol felt guilty for having exposed her friend to

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the virus. Perhaps she thought she’d ruin his chances of

becoming a professional athlete,” Tina told the officer.

“Well, attempting to take another persons’

medication to cope with the problem is definitely not

smart,” the officer replied.

As the officers finished taking their report, Tina

and Sandra prepared to visit the hospital’s emergency

room. Once they arrived at the ER, they saw several

visitors waiting patiently in the ER waiting room.

“I got to be honest with you Sandra; I’m so scared,”

Tina admitted.

“Yeah, me, too. I prayed all the way here,”

Sandra said.

“We should have never left her alone,” Tina stated.

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“Carol was so upset,” she added.

“Yeah, but thank goodness we decided to return and

check on her,” Sandra replied.

“You know, Tina, I can’t imagine life without Carol.

We’ve gone through so much together. Looking back, I

never told Carol that I was the one who wrote her 10th

grade boyfriend a love note. I made sure that Carol

found the note. She was so angry at him. She accused

him of cheating on her. She threw a cup of water in

his face and received three days in detention for

misconduct. The whole prank was so funny,” Sandra

told Tina.

“You think that was funny? Listen to this! Six

months ago, I went on a date with Jeff Dozer,” Tina

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said.

“You mean the nerd? The goofy-looking Jeff

Dozer?” Sandra asked.

“Yeah, that’s the one,” Tina chuckled.

“Tina how could you?” Sandra inquired curiously.

“Well, I couldn’t as Tina, but I did as Carol,” she

told Sandra.

“You what?” Sandra asked, laughing out loud in

total disbelief.

“I never imagined Jeff Dozer could be so

thoughtful and polite. At the end of the date, I gave

him a big kiss and made him promise to never forget my

name,” Tina confessed.

“Oh, no!” Sandra giggled uncontrollably. “So

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you’re the reason Carol was the laughing stock of

the school six months ago. Tina, how could you?”

Sandra asked.

“Girl, you know how much I love Carol. She’s

like a sister to me, too. School life was boring and I

just wanted to have a little fun,” Tina reasoned.

All of a sudden, the emergency room door opened

and a doctor proceeded to walk in their direction.

“Are you family members of Carol?” the doctor

asked the girls.

“I guess you can say so. Her parents are out of

town for the weekend. How is she?” Tina asked.

“Well, for now, we’ve done everything we can

do,” the doctor responded. “Thanks to the two of you,

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Your friend is expected to have a full recovery,” he told

them.

“Oh, thank goodness!” Sandra expressed with a

sigh of relief.

“Uh…what are we going to do with this girl?”

Tina asked, feeling totally relieved by the doctor’s

prognosis.

“She’ll remain in the hospital until we’re sure she’s

no longer a danger to herself,” the doctor told them.

“We have a counselor waiting to talk with her once

she’s out of the ER. Do you know if anyone contacted

her parents?” the doctor asked.

“We called them as soon as we arrived at the

hospital,” Tina replied.

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“Good! Carol’s very fortunate to have two

wonderful friends,” he told them.

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7
The Difference Between HIV/AIDS

Later that evening, Sandra and Tina returned home

and Carol was moved to the hospital’s intensive care unit.

Carol was placed on one-to-one observation and suicide

precaution.

The next morning, Professor Gulu, the hospital

counselor, met with Carol in the intensive care unit.

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“Good morning, Carol,” Professor Gulu said.

“Good morning,” Carol replied, appearing weak and

depressed.

“How are you doing this morning?” he asked

Carol.

“I’m a little tired, and who are you?” Carol

asked, in a soft, curious tone of voice.

“My name is Professor Gulu. I’m a counselor,” he

answered.

“Well, I guess you’re here to talk about

what happened yesterday, huh?” she asked him.

“I’m here to be helpful in whatever way I

can. Perhaps what happened yesterday is a good

place to

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start,” Professor Gulu remarked.

Carol took a big sigh and gently bit her lower

lip.

“I guess you know about the pills, huh? I didn’t

mean to scare everybody, and I definitely wasn’t

trying to hurt myself,” she told Professor Gulu.

“You mentioned hurt yourself, so you weren’t

really trying to end your life?” he asked Carol.

“I don’t want to die; I don’t want to be HIV

positive either,” she said.

“Then it’s not your life you want to end,

but instead the realization of having to cope with such a

dreadful disease,” Professor Gulu clarified.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right,” Carol replied.

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“Tell me, Carol, what do you know about HIV?”

Professor Gulu asked.

“Well, people say it’s a death sentence.

I mean, once you get it, life is over… right?”

Carol inquired naively.

“So, you tell yourself that being HIV positive is the

end of life—that you have nothing else to look

forward to. Wow! I can understand why you feel so

hopeless,” he empathized with Carol.

“Well, isn’t that the truth?” Carol asked, seeking

confirmation.

“Individuals with HIV can live to be very old.

Of course, we both know that no one can

predict the life span of the healthiest person.

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However, those newly diagnosed with HIV who

take care of their mental health, avoid abusing

alcohol and drugs, and start anti-retroviral therapy

can achieve dramatic results,” Professor Gulu explained.

“What is anti-retroviral therapy?” Carol asked.

“It’s treatment with medications that inhibit the

growth and replication of HIV or other types of

retroviruses in the body,” Professor Gulu replied.

“Okay, so if I follow my treatment plan,

it’s possible that I may live to become a very

old person, huh?” Carol asked.

“Yes, it’s possible,” Professor Gulu chuckled.

“Wow! That’s good to hear, but I’m a little confused.

What is the difference between HIV and AIDS” Carol

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asked.

“Good question. Let’s see if I can help you to

understand. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. HIV

destroys a type of defense cell in the body called CD4

or T-cells. These cells help the immune system identify

things that shouldn’t be there like viruses or bacteria.

Once many of these defense cells are destroyed,

people with HIV begin to get serious or life-

threatening infections that they normally wouldn’t.

People with HIV are given an AIDS diagnosis once

their immune system becomes this weak,” Professor

Gulu said.

“So HIV destroys the body’s ability to fight off

disease and infections?” Carol asked.

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“Yes,” Professor Gulu replied.

“But why me?” Carol asked, reaching for

the tissue and sobbing. “I think I’m a good person. I go

to church, donate much of my free time at nursing

homes, and I do my best to stay out of trouble. So

why me?” she asked Professor Gulu.

Professor Gulu cleared his throat and began to speak.

Carol, HIV/AIDS is no respecter of persons. It affects

the good, the bad, the rich, and the poor. What makes a

person susceptible is whether he or she engages in high-

risk behavior,” he told Carol.

“Having sex without making sure my partner used

a latex condom was the biggest mistake I’ve ever

made. But my partner had no symptoms and he looked

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so healthy, so physically fit,” Carol justified.

“Who’d ever thought he’d have the virus,” Carol

murmured.

“A perfectly healthy looking individual can be

infected with the virus and have no symptoms. In

fact, a person can be infected with the virus for many

years before showing any signs or symptoms of the

disease,” Professor Gulu said.

“Yeah, that’s what I’ve heard. People with HIV

can unknowingly infect others with the virus before

realizing their own status,” Carol remarked.

“Yes,” Professor Gulu replied.

Carol closed her eyes and shook her head from side

to side.

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“I just can’t believe this has happened to me.

How do I tell my parents? What do I say?” she asked,

her voice cracking.

“It’s never easy having to share such difficult

news with your family,” he told Carol. “As a matter of

fact, your parents are here. They’ve been waiting

patiently in the lobby,” he said.

“Oh, no!” Carol cried out. “I can’t do this! I’m not

ready! No! Nooo!” Carol sobbed.

“Carol, wake up! Wake up! Carol,” Dr. Benton

said, wiping Carol’s face with a damp face cloth.

Carol opened her eyes, glared around the room, and

appeared totally disoriented.

“What’s going on? Where am I?” she asked,

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appearing anxious and very confused.

“You were shouting no! I believe you were

having a bad dream,” Dr. Benton told her.

“A dream? You mean it was all a dream?”

Carol asked, sounding elated and relieved.

“Wow! Being afraid of syringes is one thing, but I

really need to keep a close eye on you and

the gas,” Dr. Benton said, laughing.

“I’m okay!” Carol cried out cheerfully.

“I’m okay!” she repeated.

Dr. Benton exited the room with a grin on

his face.

Carol glared at the dental assistant and expressed a

big sigh of relief.

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“I sincerely hope you’re okay because tomorrow

night is your prom, right?” the dental assistant

asked Carol.

“It sure is,” Carol replied.

“Wow! I remember my prom night. There was so

much hype, so many handsome young boys. A word

of advice…don’t be pressured into doing anything

you’ll regret the next day,” the assistant told Carol.

“Don’t worry. I’ve learned my lesson,” Carol

told her.

“Huh?” the dental assistant responded with a

puzzled look on her face.

“It’s a long story, or should I say a long dream,”

Carol remarked, smiling as she rose from the dentist’s

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chair.

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TAKE THE TEST

QUIZ

Instructions: Please write True if the statement is

true and False if the statement is false in the blank

space provided.

1. Carol’s doctor ordered

laboratory tests and he shared the results

with her parents.

2. Larry, Carol’s ex-boyfriend,

was secretly dating other girls behind Carol’s

back.

3. Because Nathan did not use

protection, Carol believed it was important

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for him to take the HIV test.

4. Sandra told Tina that the risk of

transmitting the HIV virus from mouth to

mouth resuscitation was not possible unless

blood was present.

5. Carol believed there was a medical

cure for HIV.

6. Professor Gulu told Carol that

Individuals with HIV can live to be very old.

7. HIV is a bacteria that causes AIDS.

8. HIV destroys the body’s ability to

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fight off diseases and infections.

9. Only bad people who engage in

high-risk behavior get HIV.

10. Carol said having sexual

intercourse without making sure her partner

used a latex condom was the biggest mistake

she had ever made.

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TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE ON HIV/AIDS

QUIZ
(True or False)

Instructions: Please write True if the statement is

true or False if the statement is false in the blank

space provided.

1. HIV is a virus that attacks

the immune system.

2. Kissing, touching door

handles, shaking hands, and hugging are

common ways to spread the HIV virus.

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3. You can tell just by

looking at a person if he or she is infected

with HIV.

4. With proper medical

treatment, daily exercise, and a healthy diet,

people with HIV are able to live a life that is

hopefully as long as they would without

HIV.

5. Having unprotected sex

(i.e., not using a latex condom), sharing any

kind of needles (e.g. heroine, insulin,

steroids, etc) are the most common ways to

get infected with HIV.

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6. Many people with HIV

infection do not have symptoms.

7. Failure to take HIV

medication properly can lead to drug

resistance, which means your medication will

become ineffective against HIV.

8. After being infected with

HIV, a person will become infectious within

a day or so.

9. A person can carry the

HIV virus many years before any obvious

symptoms appear.

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10. HIV can be transmitted

from one person to another through blood,

semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk.

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TYPES OF HIV TESTS

RAPID HIV ANTIBODY TESTING – Unlike the

standard HIV antibody testing procedure that may
require up to two weeks for results, the rapid test
provides results in 5-60 minutes. The rapid blood
testing procedure requires that you clean the area
with alcohol before you prick the finger with a
lancet to get a small drop of blood. The blood is
collected and analysis is performed to detect the
presence of HIV.
Oral testing is another procedure that may detect
the presence of HIV in oral fluid specimens by
swabbing the gums with test devices and placing
them in a solution. In as little as 20 minutes, the test
device will indicate the presence or absence of
HIV-1 antibodies in the solution. If the test gives a
reactive test result, another test must be
administered to confirm the initial test findings.

POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION (PCR) –

A diagnostic test used to detect the virus before the
body produces antibodies.

CONFIDENTIAL OR ANONYMOUS
Confidential Testing
Testing confidentially means that you are required

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to give your name, your social security number, and

your date of birth. Only medical personnel or, in
some states, the state health department, will have
access to your records. If you test HIV positive,
your name will be forwarded to your State Office of
AIDS and converted to a non-name code that is sent
to the U.S Centers for Disease Control Prevention
(CDC). The CDC and the Office of AIDS will keep
count of the number of people living in each county
and state with HIV, ensuring that they properly
fund services in each region.
An important aspect of confidential testing is
that you can get your results in writing. If you test
HIV-positive, a written test report helps you gain
access to medical and psychosocial support
services. Written results will enable you to share
documented proof of your test results with partners
and significant others.

Anonymous Testing
Testing anonymously means that no one will ask
you for your name at any time during the
counseling and testing experience. A “Unique
Testing Code” will be used to identify your
“Specimen Lab Number,” the test results, and your
identity. Even if you test HIV positive, your
personal identity remains anonymous, and you are

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not given anything in writing about your test

results.

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), or PrEP, is the
prevention of HIV by taking a pill every day for
individuals who do not have HIV but who are at
substantial risk of getting the HIV virus. The
brand name of the medication is Truvada.
Truvada is comprised of two drugs (tenofovir and
emtricitabine) taken in combination with other
medications to treat HIV. When individuals are
exposed to HIV through injection drug use or
sexual activity, Truvada will work to prevent the
virus from becoming a permanent infection.
When used consistently, the drug has up to a 92%
success rate. However, it is always best to use
condoms in combination with any oral
prophylaxis. And finally, 3-month follow-up
evaluations with a physician are highly
recommended.

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Important Myths Parents and Caregivers Need to

Discuss with Youth:

Major Myths about HIV/AIDS

1. I was recently diagnosed with HIV…I don’t

have long to live.
People are living longer today with HIV than ever
before. New and improved medication, better
treatment interventions, daily exercise, and a proper
diet have given those infected with HIV a healthy,
productive, and relatively normal life span.

2. Do we have a vaccine for HIV/AIDS?

Developing a vaccine is simple.
Not true. Developing an effective vaccine for HIV
is not easy. Despite y ears of medical research,
progress toward developing an effective AIDS
vaccine has been frustratingly slow. The first
barrier is the lack of information regarding what
types of immune responses may protect against
HIV infection. The second is to develop a vaccine
that will prevent HIV replication. And the third
challenge is to develop a vaccine that will prevent
infection, since most existing viral vaccines prevent
disease and do not prevent infection. There are
many other challenges and barriers to developing

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an effective vaccine, and medical research teams

are working diligently to overcome them all.

3. There is a cure for HIV.

HIV is a virus. At present, there is no cure for a
virus. Different vaccines have been tested to date,
but none have been effective in eradicating the HIV
virus.

4. Any licensed physician can treat HIV.

Doctors who specialize in HIV care provide the
very best treatment for HIV patients. There are
distinct advantages to getting HIV care from an
HIV specialist. The first is knowledge and
experience. Due to years of experience treating HIV
patients, HIV specialists are more familiar with
recognizing symptoms, treating complications ,a n d
developing treatment and care plans for HIV
patients. Secondly, HIV specialists understand
the emotional, social, and physical impact that HIV
has on HIV infected persons. And finally, HIV
specialists must keep current with the rapid changes
in treatment methodology, research procedures, and
new advancements in HIV/AIDS treatment.

5. It’s safe to have oral sex without condoms.

There is a risk of contracting HIV and other

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sexually transmitted diseases through oral sex.

Ulcers and open sores around the mouth allow
points of entry for the HIV virus and other STDs to
enter the bloodstream. It’s important to note that
individuals with STDs and/or sores in the mouth
may already have a problem with their immune
system, making them more susceptible to HIV. In
addition, while there is risk of HIV transmission
through oral sex that risk is significantly low when
compared to anal and vaginal sex. Of major
concern is the increased risk of contracting other
STD’s (e.g. Syphilis and Gonorrhea) through oral
sex.

6. Being diagnosed with HIV means I can’t have

children.
This is no longer true. With the advent of HIV
medications, coupled by new approaches to treating
pregnant women, HIV infected women can
experience a full-term pregnancy and not transmit
HIV to their newborn. To significantly increase
women’s chances of giving birth to a baby without
HIV, women must fully comply with both doctors’
orders and their treatment regimen.

7. The older adult population (over 50 age is not

at risk for HIV.

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Nothing could be further from the truth. HIV

surveillance indicates that people over the age of 50
account for 11 percent of all new HIV cases. HIV
is no respecter of age.

8. My partner and I have HIV…it’s useless to

use condoms.
Even though you and your partner may be infected
with HIV, failure to use condoms may mean that
you could catch, or even pass on, other types of
HIV. You may acquire a different HIV strain that is
resistant to your current HIV treatments. In
addition, you could increase your chances of
catching other sexually transmitted infections.

9. Only gay men and drug users get HIV.

HIV can infect anyone, including married couples.
Therefore do your best to avoid engaging in
high-risk behaviors (unprotected sex, sharing
needles, etc.). Becoming educated on how the HIV
virus is transmitted is one of the first steps to
protect yourself. Thinking that HIV is only a gay
men or drug user disease is a big mistake. Don’t be
caught off guard. Learn the facts, never engage in
high-risk behaviors, and get tested annually.

10. There is no difference between HIV and

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AIDS.
This is absolutely false. HIV is a virus. This virus
attacks T-Cells (white blood cells), which lead the
attack against infections. When a person is infected
with HIV for a long time, the number of T-Cells
they have decreases. The decline in the number of
T-Cells is a sign that the immune system is being
weakened. The lower the T-Cell count, the more
likely the person will get sick. AIDS is the final
stage of an HIV infection. A person is diagnosed
with AIDS when his or her T-Cells drop below 200,
making the individual seriously vulnerable to
opportunistic infections.

11. Sexual intercourse with a virgin can cure

HIV/AIDS.
This is definitely false. Believing that unprotected
sexual intercourse with a virgin can cure
HIV/AIDS is a misconception that has actually
increased the spread of HIV. This myth has also
increased the number of young women being
harassed, abused, and mistreated in different
cultures.

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How to Talk to Your Kids About HIV/AIDS

Tips for talking with kids about HIV/AIDS

Introduction
Some parents and caregivers may feel completely
uncomfortable talking about HIV/AIDS or other
sensitive topics with their children. Perhaps you're
one of them. But consider the obvious: Today’s
teens and young children are already hearing about
these issues on the playground, at school, in the
cinema, on TV, and in magazines. Their education
on sex, HIV/AIDS, and drugs may have started
years before your awareness. Now you ask, “how
much do they know? Are they sexually active? Are
they aware of the dangers? Do they really have all
the important facts?” Your children are still young
and very uninformed about many of the facts of
life. The time you spend communicating with them
about important issues will determine the quality of
life they experience. It’s not too late to get in the
game.
Please offer your children the most valuable resource
you have—COMMUNICATION.

1. Early Intervention
Kids are exposed to complex issues at a much
earlier age today. Ideally, children should seek out

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their parents first for information, advice and

guidance. However, once they reach the teenage
years, kids begin to rely upon friends, the
media and other outsiders for their information. As
a parent, guardian or caregiver, it is important to
talk with your children first, before they become
confused and misinformed by those who seek
to take advantage of them. Take advantage of your
children’s early developmental years by instilling
in them important family values that will help
them more effectively cope with tough issues like
sex, HIV/AIDS, and substance abuse.

2. Be a Leader - Initiate
Conversation
Children are not usually comfortable going to
their parents to discuss a sensitive topic like
sex or intimacy. As a parent or caregiver, you are
head of the household, a leader. Therefore, take the
initiative to begin the discussions with your
children. Watch TV shows together and discuss
their feelings, thoughts, and reactions to specific
programs and events. Talk about family values and
how you expect them to handle similar
situations, including discussions about how to seek
out helpful resources. In addition, use words that
your children can understand. A seven-year-old
child may not understand words like “immune

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system” and “transmission.” Use simple language

and words they understand. Don’t confuse your
child by giving them too much information. Be
simple and straightforward. If you have a wide
age range of children, speak with them separately
to minimize confusion and misunderstandings.
And finally, be attentive and listen to your children.
Allow them to have a voice, to be heard. How else
will you find out what they are thinking?

3. Teach Family Values

Despite how uncomfortable you may feel talking
about sex with your children, it’s important that
you initiate the discussion. Failure to address
sensitive topics like sex, HIV/AIDS, and drug
abuse means that you’re entrusting the media, the
playgrounds, their peers, and unknown others to
teach and instill in your children values, principles,
and behaviors that you may not approve of. Accept
responsibility for the values your kids adopt. Get
involved! Help them to develop a healthy value
system.

4. Create a Safe Atmosphere to Communicate

Parents may not be aware that their teens really
desire to discuss difficult subjects with them.
Teens and young children who don’t have an open
conversational relationship with their parents are

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often afraid of their parent’s reaction. Kids who

have been told that “children should be seen and
not heard” generally feel more discomfort
approaching their parents with sensitive topics.
Teens who routinely receive harsh ridicule, strict
discipline, or scorn from their parents are more
likely to confide in their peers and others on
sensitive subject matters. Parents must both teach
their kids to be respectful and create the kind of
atmosphere in which their kids can ask any
questions without fear of consequence. Establishing
a safe, supportive, and encouraging atmosphere is a
good place for parents to start. For instance, parents
should not dodge or avoid questions that make them
feel slightly embarrassed. Praise your child for
coming to you and entrusting you to handle such
special or serious subject matter. If parents don’t
know the answer, be honest! Tell your kids you’re
not sure, and invite them to go look up the answer
with you. Your children will appreciate your
honesty and benefit from acquiring accurate and
reliable information to their questions. And finally,
set aside time to discuss topics or subjects that
deserve a more thorough explanation. Don’t let
your current circumstances or situation rob you of a
valuable opportunity to help your children develop
greater insight and understanding on important

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issues. Schedule a time to meet with them.

5. Listen and Build Self-esteem

Make time to listen to your children. A little
undivided attention communicates that you care
more for them than the immediate task at hand.
Whether you’re ironing clothes, washing your car,
or repairing an electrical appliance, your children
need to know that they are special to you. Their
self-esteem increases tremendously when they
know you value them more than your work. Simply
put, children need to feel special about themselves,
and they need to know that others, especially
parents, feel special about them. So please, don’t
ignore your children. And always remember, a little
communication goes a long way.

6. Be Honest and Straightforward

Always be honest with your children. Trust is built
when you provide honest and accurate information
to your children. Children who don’t receive honest
and straightforward answers to their questions will
often fill in the blanks with their own fantasy
explanations, increasing the risks of poor decision-
making and engaging in high-risk behaviors. While
it’s important that parents don’t provide their
children with too much information, they should try

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not to leave any big gaps either. Remember, children

will attempt to make sense out of what they don’t
understand. Oftentimes, their limited insight and
personal experiences will lead them to draw the wrong
conclusions. Take time with your children to ensure
they understand important issues and respect you as a
reliable and honest source of information.

7. Freedom of Total Self-expression

Allow your child to have his or her own voice and to
fully express their thoughts without interruption.
You help children to feel confident in their ability to
think and reason when you allow them to express
their thoughts and ideas completely. Don’t get into
the practice of finishing your children’s sentences
for them. Allow them to express their point of view.
How else will you truly know what they really
think? In addition, children believe that they truly
matter and are worthwhile when parents don’t rob them
of self-expression.

8. Re-visit Discussions
Helping your children understand health and safety
issues is an ongoing process. Topics such HIV/AIDS,
drug abuse, and peer pressure are far too complex
and ever changing for a mere one-time family
discussion. Children tend to have a limited attention
span and may only process small bits of information
during a single discussion. Therefore, schedule

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another discussion at a later date to assess how

much information was retained and how much new
information they have acquired. A follow-up discussion
will help you correct any misconceptions, share new
thoughts and ideas, and provide missing facts. And
above all, be prepared to discuss important topics or
subjects with your children over and over again.
Children learn through repetition and ongoing
discussions help to dispel any new myths, erroneous
perceptions, or fears they may harbor.

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Answers to TAKE THE TEST:

Quiz

1. False 2. True 3. True 4. True

5. False 6. True 7. False 8. True

9. False 10. True

Answers to Test Your Knowledge on HIVAIDS

True/False Test:

1. True 2. False 3. False 4. True

5. True 6. True 7. True 8. True

9. True 10. True

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National AIDS Hotlines

National AIDS Hotline:
1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636)
TTY: 1-888-232-6348
Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
E-mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov
In English, en Español.

National Association of People With AIDS

Hotline:
1-240-247-0880
Hours: Monday through Friday 9:00 am to 5:30
pm (Eastern Time)

GMHC AIDS Hotline:

1-800-AIDS-NYC (1-800-243-7692)
TTY: 1-212-645-7470
International: 1-212-807-6655
Hours: Monday through Friday 10:00 am to 9:00
pm (Eastern Time); Saturday, 12:00 to 3:00 pm
E-mail: hotline@gmhc.org
General AIDS hotline for those worried that they
may be infected, or people trying to access to
New York City AIDS resources.

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AIDS in Prison Project's Hotline:

1-718-378-7022 (English and Spanish)
Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 3:00 pm
to 8:00 pm (Eastern Time)
HIV/AIDS hotline for prisoners. All collect calls
accepted.

United States AIDS Hotlines

Alabama AIDS Hotline
In Alabama: (800) 228-0469

Alaska AIDS Hotline

In Alaska: (800) 478-2437
Nationwide: (907) 276-4880

Arkansas AIDS Hotline

In Arkansas: (800) 232-4636

Arizona AIDS Hotline

In Arizona: (800) 232-4636

California HIV/AIDS Hotline

Nationwide: (800) 367-AIDS
In San Francisco and outside California: (415)
863-2437

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Information available in English, Spanish and

Filipino
TDD for the deaf: 1-888-225-AIDS.

Colorado STD/HIV Hotline

Denver only: (303) 692-2777
In Colorado (toll free): (877) 478-3448

Delaware AIDS Hotline

In Delaware: (800) 422-0429

District of Columbia AIDS Information Line

(202) 332-2437
In metro DC. & VA: (800) 322-7432

Florida AIDS Hotline

In Florida, in English: (800) 352-AIDS
In Haitian Creole: (800) 243-7101
In Spanish: (800) 545-SIDA
TTY: 1-888-503-7118
Ocala/Marion County Community AIDS Network
(OMCCAN): (352)-629-5124

Georgia AIDS Information Line

In Georgia: (800) 551-2728
Nationwide: (404) 876-9944

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Hawaii STD/AIDS Hotlines

In Hawaii: (800) 321-1555
Nationwide: (808) 922-1313

Illinois AIDS Hotline

In Illinois: (800) 243-2437
In Illinois TTY/TDD: (800) 782-0423
See also Illinois Hotlines and Organizations

Indiana no longer has an AIDS Hotline, call:

National AIDS Hotline (24 hours a day, daily):
(800) 232-4636

Iowa AIDS Hotline

In Iowa: (800) 445-2437

Louisiana AIDS Hotline

In Louisiana: (800) 99 AIDS 9 (992-4379)
In Louisiana: (504) 821-6050
In Louisiana TDD: (877) 566-9448
Hours of service: Monday - Friday 10 am - 8 pm,
Saturday 10 am - 4 pm.

Maine AIDS Hotline

In Maine: (800) 851-2437
Nationwide: (800) 775-1267

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Maryland AIDS Hotline

In Maryland, (Bilingual) 800-638-6252
In Metro DC. & VA: (800) 322-7432
Hispanic AIDS Hotline: (301) 949-0945
Baltimore only TTY area: (410) 333-2437

Massachusetts AIDS Hotline

In Massachusetts: (800) 235-2331
Hepatitis C Hotline: (888) 443-4372
Nationwide: (617) 536-7733
TTY/TDD: (617) 437-1672
TTY: (617) 450-1427
Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.,
Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Spanish spoken. Se habla Español.

Michigan AIDS Hotline

In Michigan: (800) 872-2437
TTY/TDD: (800) 332-0849
Spanish: (800) 826-SIDA
Teen Line: (800) 750-TEEN
Health Care Workers: (800) 522-0399

Minnesota AIDS Line

Nationwide: (612) 373-2437
In Minnesota: (800) 248-2437

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Missouri AIDS Information Line

Nationwide: (800) 533-2437

Mississippi AIDS Hotline

In Mississippi: (800) 826-2961

Montana AIDS PROGRAM

In Montana: (800) 233-6668
Eastern Montana AIDS Hotline: (800) 675-2437
Western Montana AIDS Hotline: (800) 663-9002

Nebraska AIDS Hotline

Nationwide: (800) 782-2437

Nevada AIDS Information Line

In Nevada: (800) 842-2437

New Hampshire AIDS Hotline

In New Hampshire: (800) 752-2437

New Jersey AIDS Hotline

In New Jersey: (800) 624-2377 (24 hrs, 7 days)
TTY/TDD: (201) 926-8008

New Mexico AIDS Hotline

In New Mexico: (800) 545-2437

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New York
In New York:
New York State HIV counseling hotline:
(800) 872-2777 (M-F 2-8, S & S 10-6)
New York State information hotline: (800) 541-
2437 (information tapes 24 hrs; counselors Mon.-
Fri. 8-8, Sat. & Sun. 10-6)
New York State Spanish hotline: (800) 233-SIDA
New York State counseling hotline for the deaf
and hearing impaired: (800) 369-2437 TDD NYC
Department of Health AIDS Helpline: 1-
800-TALK-HIV (counseling, recorded
information, and testing information)
AIDS Institute experimental treatment info line:
(800) 633-7444
GMHC AIDS Hotline: (212) 807-6655 (M-F 10-9,
Sat 12-3)
GMHC TDD: (212) 645-7470
Body Positive Helpline 800-566-6599 (2-6pm
Mon-Fri)
Long Island AIDS Hotline: (516) 385-AIDS (M-F
9-9, tape after hours)
AIDS Council of Northeastern New York AIDS
Info Hotline: (518) 445-2437 (800) 201-AIDS
See also New York State AIDS Organizations

North Carolina AIDS Hotline

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In North Carolina: (800) 232-4636

North Dakota AIDS Hotline

In North Dakota: (800) 782-2437
Nationwide: (701) 328-2378

Ohio AIDS Hotline

In Ohio: (800) 332-2437
In Ohio TTY/TDD: (800) 332-3889

Oklahoma AIDS Hotline

In Oklahoma: (800) 535-2437

Oregon AIDS Hotline

Area codes 503, 206 and 208: (800) 777-2437
Voice & TTY: (503) 223-2437

Pennsylvania AIDS Hotline

In Pennsylvania: (800) 662-6080
Critical Path Project Hotline: (215) 545-2212
(215) 463- 7160 (publications orders)

Puerto Rico Linea de Infor SIDA y Enfermedades

de Transmision Sexual
In Puerto Rico: (800) 981-5721
Nationwide: (809) 765-1010

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Rhode Island AIDS Hotline

Nationwide: (800) 726-3010

South Carolina AIDS Hotline

In South Carolina: (800) 322-2437

South Dakota AIDS Hotline

In South Dakota: (800) 592-1861

Tennessee AIDS Hotline

In Tennessee: (800) 525-AIDS

Texas AIDSLINE
In Texas: (800) 299-2437 or Dial 211

Utah AIDS Information Line

In Utah: (800) 366-2437
Nationwide: (801) 487-2100

Vermont AIDS Hotline

In Vermont: (800) 882-2437

Virgin Islands AIDS Hotline

(809) 773-2437

Virginia STD/AIDS Hotline

In Virginia: (800) 533-4148
In Virginia Hispanic line: (800) 322-7432
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Washington AIDS Hotline

In Washington: (800) 272-2437

West Virginia AIDS Hotline

In West Virginia: (800) 642-8244

Wisconsin AIDS Hotline

In Wisconsin: (800) 334-2437
Nationwide: (414) 273-2437

Wyoming AIDS Hotline

Nationwide: (800) 327-3577

A State-by-State Guide to State and Territorial

Resources for HIV Prevention and Education

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PROFESSOR GULU’S

Below is a list of books and Cerebrophonic music

topics created by Professor Gulu, including his
scientifically proven approach to learning called
Cerebrophonics:

Cerebrophonics – A style of learning that uses

upbeat music to increase the flow of noradrenaline
in the brain, resulting in kids being more excited
and motivated during the learning process.

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Simply put, Cerebrophonics makes learning fun!

And now, with Cerebrophonics, topics and lessons

that parents agree to be of tremendous importance to
kids can be taught and effectively communicated
through online digital lyric sheets and fun-filled
music.

So, get excited while you learn use Cerebrophonics!

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Professor Gulu’s

Cerebrophonic Music & Book Topics

1. The Basic Fundamentals of Learning
2. Obeying Rules
3. Oral Hygiene Care
4. Kids and Fire Safety
5. Internet Predato rs/Child Abduction
6. Bullying and Cyberbullying
7. Typ e 2 Diabetes/Obesit y
8. No Talking or Texting While Driving
and Seat Belt Safet y
9. HIV/ AIDS Awareness
10. Substance Abuse Preventio n
11. Sexual Abuse Prevention
12. Self-Estee mAwareness
13. Gang Vio lence

www.professorgulu.com
www.professorgulumusic99cents.com

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Play it Safe!

“It’s always a good idea to read to your child.”

Professor Gulu

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Parents Subscribe for only 99 cents per month

www.professorgulumusic99cents.com

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About the Author

The desire to reduce pain and suffering of children

and empower youth to be the best they can be is what
inspired Karl A. Floyd to create his Professor Gulu
stories and Cerebrophonic music series.
With a focus on increasing youth coping skills,
safety awareness, self-esteem, judgment and decision-
making abilities, Professor Gulu’s learning series has
become a powerful tool to help gauge youth progress
towards emotional maturity. In addition, the series
will help parents and guardians learn effective
communication skills and develop insight and
understanding on complex issues that affect youth
development.
A resident of Fort Bend County, Texas, Karl lives
with his wife and business partner, Ann Branch -Floyd,
and develops educational and therapeutic resources
that support healthy community development. He
holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology
from the University of Houston, University Par k, and
works as a behavioral healthcare professional. Karl is
a former Statewide Health Coordinating Council
Member with the Governor’s Office of Boards and
Commissions (2004-2010) and is licensed as a
professional counselor. In addition, he is certified as a
Fellow and Diplomate of the American Board of Medical
Psychotherapists and Psychodiagnosticians.

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NOTES

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