The truth will set you free...

by Gina
(Maryland)

I am a 26 year old female who was diagnosed with Herpes on Christmas day. What a gift... I was horribly devastated and would spend hours just in the shower crying. I thought it was the end of the world. I went through excruciating pain and that was not even why I was so upset. I could deal with the pain and the depression, yes, but the thought of having a husband and kids I thought was shattered.

Recently I have met a man who encompasses all of the qualities I could ever ask for. He is a Navy SEAL and a complete gentleman. After I found out I had Herpes, I would not go on one date, for fear of liking someone and having to move forward with telling them. Well, thats exactly what happened. We began hanging out every day, and I started to feel something I have never felt before. Things were getting hot and heavy a couple of times and I was able to avoid it...but I knew I had to tell him...

This is where things changed for me. Whenever he left I would break down and lose it. I was so afraid of losing him and what we had that I almost thought about breaking it off just so I didnt have to tell him. He was starting to tell me how much he cared and how much he wanted to be with only me...uh ohh

So I went to visit him in VA Beach where he was stationed. One night I just could not hold it in anymore. He asked me what was wrong and I told him I thought it would ruin everything...I continued on to tell him I had an STD, which takes more courage then some can muster.

After telling him, and him asking questions...he looked at me and said "I am alright with this. I care so much about you and this information wont change that" I almost fell to my knees. Day in and out I was so worried about telling him...I would pray, cry, pray, cry...and here he was telling me it didnt matter.

We are still dating and I am starting to really fall in love. He is everything I have ever wanted. Having herpes may be a blessing in disguise for me. I am learning how to treat people better and not take people for granted. A man like this does not come around that often.

My boyfriend will eventually get deployed for 6-10 months. This is going to be really hard but we BOTH made sacrifices to keep love...