My amazing Aids survival story
Courageous Jane Bruning has defied the cruel illness she was told would kill her – now she’s compaigning to save other women. Looking at my six-year-old son Jonathan playing happily, without a care in the world, was the hardest moment of my life.
"I won’t be here for your 10th birthday," I thought, choking back the tears. "I won’t see you graduate or meet your future wife."
I had been diagnosed with HIV and told I had three years to live. All I could think about was my boy. I had been living in Tanzania for nine years and absolutely loved it. I led a privileged life and loved the culture, the people and the African sun.
Leaving New Zealand as a naïve 20-year-old, I never imagined this would be the way my life would turn out.
I had gone to Europe for a six-month adventure and got a job as a cook with a tour company. The next two years were spent travelling to different countries. It was a total beer and sex fest. I know that sounds bad now but I was young and didn’t care.
"Can I get a transfer?" I asked my boss one day. "I’ve done this for so long – I need a change."
He told me about a new company he was setting up in Tanzania. "That’s great," I said. "Where’s Tanzania?" When I found out it was in Africa, I was thrilled. I fell in love with the country from the moment I arrived. You couldn’t get toilet paper, sugar or milk, but the whole culture fascinated me.
Two years later, I began a relationship with a local man. John was a singer in a band and came from a well-to-do family. Six months later, I was over the moon to be expecting a baby. It was a planned pregnancy. I was 26 by then and I wanted to be a mother.
I wasn’t sure if John and I would work out as a couple but he was a good man and I wanted him to father my child. on 25 August 1984 I gave birth to Jonathan in Nairobi Hospital. A few months later, John went on tour with his band and our relationship became strained. I started to notice a huge cultural difference. John wouldn’t contact me for months on end and he thought this was normal. We decided to end our relationship.
The next couple of years were dedicated to my son. I loved motherhood and our life together was great. My new office job was flexible and I had a nanny to help out. Then I met Joseph.
He worked for my company and I was officially his boss. We started a passionate affair. It was fun and, because of our working relationship, a bit taboo. We kept it a secret and lived for the moment.