Gerald (14) has HIV.

How long have you known?

Since I was ten.

How did you react when you heard?

I took it calmly.

Do you know who you got it from?

From my mom.

Did you know what it was?

I had heard about it a few times at school. About viruses, that they attack the white blood cells.

What happened after you heard?

I was admitted to the Erasmus MC and that night I had to start my medication.

What did you think when you were given the medication for the first time?

That I was regarded as a kind of guinea pig. They didn't really know how the drug worked on children. I was the first person in the Netherlands to receive it. It didn't really matter to me. Someone had to be the first to start taking it.

Which medication do you take now?

Atripla®. I take it in the evening.

Do you find it hard to remember?

Sometimes I'm just tired and then I forget. But my mom often puts it out on the table before I go to bed.

Do you talk to others about it?

No, but I don't really know why. Maybe I'm a bit embarrassed. Because not everyone knows much about it. I've noticed that.

Is it difficult keeping it to yourself?

No.

What do you say when you have to go to the hospital?

I make up an excuse that I'm going to see someone I know or something. I don't have to go to the hospital very often, once or twice for blood tests. Then we often go into town and combine it with an outing.

Are the people in the neighborhood allowed to know you have it?

I don't think so.

Why do you think it's important that they don't know?

I'm afraid that they'll look at us strangely.

How do you feel they talk about HIV in the media?

It's made to seem worse than it sometimes is. Everything is made to seem worse by the media, including the poor countries in Africa. But that's not really the case, it's only a small part of it. In the Netherlands, the treatment is very good. They should show that as well.

Would you want to give information sessions yourself?

I don't think so. Because then they would then get a different picture of me. There are a few people in the class who know something about HIV.

Do you ever meet up with other young people who have HIV?

No, and I don't feel the need to either. I have been asked about The Young Ones, but I don't really feel like it. I have my parents to talk to about it, that's enough.

Do you often talk about it with your parents?

No, only if I ask them something like what would happen if I were to ever drink alcohol with the medication. Then my parents explain that I shouldn't do that because the medication is strengthened by the alcohol and vice versa, which is not good. I've also talked to my mom about what would happen if I ever didn't take my medication, and about antibodies and unsafe sex.

Do you play sports?

I play soccer in the third league. My team is C1.

How do you deal with hygiene, wounds and so on?

At school, I just try to clean it up. It doesn't happen very often, and if it does I ask at reception for a plaster.

What if others want to help you and want to touch the wound?

I've not experienced that yet, but in my opinion they always ask first whether they should help. If it were to happen, I would say that I'll do it myself.

Do you have any advice for someone who has just found out?

Try to hide it because it's not really anybody's business but yours.

How do you see your future?

I don't really think about it. I know that other young people also have it and they manage alright.