Ana's Story

by Jenna Bush

  Ana wanted to be open and honest with Guillermo about everything. She wanted, most of all, to trust him with the secret of her HIV infection, but she was afraid of his reaction, his rejection.

  One night, as they lay together in the park, Guillermo began kissing her more intensely.

  “Guillermo, stop,” Ana said. “I want to take this very slowly.” Ana refused to get intimate with Guillermo until she told him the truth.

  Ana thought about Papá, who had been infected with HIV/AIDS by her mother. When her parents met, her mother was thirteen years old, and she was unaware of the disease inside her. Ana’s mamá didn’t know that her love would make Papá so sick.

  Ana could not allow her infection to spread to anyone else. “My mother didn’t know better, but I do,” she said to herself.

  102

  Ana woke up in the night and stared at Beatriz. Her breath was slow and relaxed, like soft puffs of air.

  “Mi niñita, te amo,” Ana said quietly.

  Ana couldn’t get back to sleep. She felt anxious about Guillermo. She wanted to tell him she had HIV, but she was worried that he would leave her if he knew.

  As Ana looked at Beatriz, she decided she needed to talk to Guillermo before their relationship went any further. Otherwise it would not be fair to him, or to her and Beatriz. If he couldn’t deal with the truth and their relationship ended, Ana would have to accept that. If he embraced her as she was and wanted to move their relationship forward, then she knew it would be built on a foundation of truth.

  Ana understood now that the truth was always better than secrets or lies. Before she had told anyone about her illness, Ana felt powerless and alone. Now she realized that it didn’t have to be a secret; it was part of her, but it didn’t have to control her. She was free to live her life as fully and responsibly as she could.

  As she kissed Beatriz gently on the forehead, she was filled with hope for her future, a future no longer controlled by secrets but filled with openness, honesty, and trust.

  The following night, Ana, Guillermo, and Beatriz spent the evening together. But this time, when Guillermo walked her back to her aunt’s home, she asked him to stay and talk for a while. Ana stepped inside and put Beatriz to bed, then returned to the front porch, where Guillermo was waiting.

  She took a deep breath and sat next to him on the step.

  “Before we get closer,” Ana told him, “there’s something we need to talk about.”

  AFTERWORD

  This book does not have a tidy ending, because it is a work of nonfiction based on a life in progress. Ana is a seventeen-year-old girl with a lifetime of choices ahead of her. When I last spoke to Ana:

  She had told Guillermo she is HIV-positive. He has accepted her as she is, and they continue their relationship. If they decide to become intimate, Ana is dedicated to always using condoms. But even if their relationship goes no further, Ana’s courage in being completely honest with him was a major step toward shaping her own life.

  Both Ana and Berto have returned to school. Beatriz is being watched by a trusted babysitter.

  Beatriz will have a final HIV screening at eighteen months to confirm that she has not been infected with the virus.

  Isabel has moved out of the reform center to an orphanage, where Ana reports that she is doing better. Ana still dreams of the day when she will honor her father’s words and live in the same house with Isabel and Beatriz.

  This book must end, but Ana’s story is still being written—this time, by her.

  A letter from JENNA BUSH

  Dear Reader,

  I hope you are inspired by Ana as much as I am. To me, her words and her life are like a song—a song of hope and resilience. I met with Ana for more than six months and listened to the melody and lyrics of her life, as we sat on her porch watching the day go by, or in her small living room, or in a café. This is her story—her song—not mine.

  As the months passed, I was intrigued by Ana’s complexity. She is only seventeen, but she is wise beyond her years. Once, when we discussed her first party and her first boyfriend, her eyes filled with the light and energy of a young girl. She giggled as she described walking from school to the party and dancing freely. Then Beatriz began to cry. She held and rocked her baby, and suddenly she wasn’t a girl anymore…she was a caring mother.

  One Sunday, in the meeting room of the church, she flirted with Berto like a teenager. Yet when they doted over their baby, she was a woman, loving and protecting her child. As she told me joyfully about swimming in the waves of the Pacific Ocean, she was a girl again. But as I walked out of the church and turned to watch her support Berto, who was now showing increased signs of AIDS-related frailty, she suddenly became an adult.

  Ana is not alone in this dichotomy of children who grow up too soon. Many kids around the world are forced to take on the responsibilities of adults before they are ready. Often their childhood ends prematurely because they are orphans, live with illness, disability, or in extreme poverty. Some are forced to work at an early age instead of going to school. These children are excluded from living with the basic necessities. They do not have adequate food, clothing, shelter, or access to decent medical care and education.

  With the assistance of UNICEF and other organizations that help children, there is hope for kids like Ana. She has broken the cycle of illness, silence, and abuse by educating herself. She is determined to survive both for herself and for her daughter.

  You may be asking, “What does this have to do with me? How can I help? What could I possibly do to make a difference?”

  There are so many ways that you can make a difference in your family, school, community, and around the world. These don’t need to be grand gestures that require travel or a lot of money. Simple signs of friendship and acceptance can often change the lives of those on the outskirts of society. You can also volunteer for programs that help those in need. In the following pages, you will find some ways you can become more aware of the themes of the book: HIV/AIDS, abuse, exclusion, and exploitation. You will also find ways you can get involved in helping to solve these crises around the world and in your town. Every child deserves a chance for a better life—a safe and healthy life. You can make a difference. You have the power to help kids find strength and hope—just as Ana has.

  And if you need help yourself, don’t be ashamed and don’t keep it a secret. Look at the resources provided here. Talk to someone you trust at home or in your school, religious group, or community. Ana didn’t have many choices in her situation, but as more and more people become aware of children in need of protection, more programs and safe havens have become available to them. So don’t be afraid to ask for help. Don’t keep silent, don’t feel ashamed. Remember Ana. Live like Ana and take the steps you need to have a safe, optimistic life.

  YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

  There are young people throughout the world who live in the same conditions and face the same hardships as Ana. Whether you want to help globally, right next door, or from your computer, you can fight HIV/AIDS, abuse, poverty, and exclusion. Talk to your parents or caregivers about what you’d like to do. You can improve kids’ lives everywhere. You can make a difference.

  If you have…an hour

  EDUCATE YOURSELF.

  Learn more about HIV, abuse, and programs that interest you by researching online or visiting your school or local library.

  “PASS ON THE GIFT.”

  Donate money to buy cows, sheep, rabbits, honeybees, ducks, and other animals to help hungry communities throughout the world feed and educate themselves. Heifer.org tells you how you can donate and other ways you can volunteer for Heifer International programs if you want to do more.

  SHARE INFORMATION.

  Use the discussion questions at the back of this book and your research to talk about the tough issues you read about in Ana’s Story. The more you discuss the facts, the faster stigmas will dissolve.

  If you have…an hour a week


  VOLUNTEER.

  Stop by or call your city hall or municipal building and find out if there’s a volunteer network from which you can learn more about local projects.

  BECOME A MENTOR.

  Go to a community center nearby to find out if it has a program for younger kids who need older role models and friends. Or become a Big Brother or Big Sister at www.bbbs.org.

  TEACH A SKILL.

  Use your talents and interests by coaching a sport, sharing your culture, reading a book aloud to someone, teaching music, or leading an arts and crafts project in your community.

  TUTOR A STUDENT.

  Contact your local board of education to find out if there is a volunteer tutor coordinator for your district. Or call a school directly and ask how you can help a child.

  PROVIDE SUPPORT AND COUNSELING.

  Volunteer for an HIV/AIDS or abuse hotline. You’ll have to go through some training, but after that’s over you’ll probably have to commit to only a few hours each month.

  If you have…a day

  Observe World AIDS Day on December 1. Talk to a person in charge and organize an event at your school, place of worship, or community center. Find themes, toolkits, posters, and other resources at:

  www.worldaidscampaign.info

  www.omhrc.gov/hivaidsobservances/world/

  If you have…a month

  ORGANIZE DONATION DRIVES.

  Contact a local shelter, hospital, school, or place of worship about organizations in the area that accept donations for those in need. Then get permission to start collecting. You might consider these ideas:

  An October coat and blanket drive

  A November canned food drive to help feed families who otherwise would not be able to celebrate Thanksgiving

  A December gift drive for the holidays

  An any-time-of-year drive for the basics: toiletries, diapers, and simple health-care supplies

  If you have…a summer

  MAKE TRAVEL COUNT.

  Talk to your parents or caregivers about giving back during your school breaks and take a trip that’s fun and fulfilling. Find a community service opportunity in another part of the world. Here are some suggestions on where to start:

  Academic Treks (www.academictreks.com)

  Lifeworks (www.lifeworks-international.org)

  World School (www.worldschoolinc.org)

  Habitat for Humanity (www.habitat.org)

  See if your house of worship is organizing any trips to work in another part of the country or world.

  If you have…a year

  SPONSOR A CLASS.

  Help out in an elementary school classroom. Organize a group to visit the students, raise money for supplies, or donate books to the room.

  JOIN KEY CLUB.

  The world’s largest student-led organization asks members to commit to fifty hours of community service. If your school doesn’t have a Key Club, start one. To find out how, log on to www.keyclub.org.

  WRITE TO A PEN PAL.

  Ask your teacher about exchanging letters or emails with students in a class in another country. This is a great way to meet new people in new places and find out more about their cultures, their countries, and their needs. And you can make interesting new friends.

  Make a difference with UNICEF…

  UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund, provides lifesaving nutrition, clean water, education, protection, and emergency response in 156 countries. For more than sixty years, UNICEF has been the world’s leading international children’s organization, saving more young lives than any other humanitarian organization. While millions of children die each year due to preventable causes such as measles, treatable diseases such as HIV/AIDS, and as a result of violence, UNICEF, with the support of partnering organizations, donors, and volunteers alike, has the global experience and reach to give children the best hope of survival. Whether you have a little or a lot of time, think about supporting UNICEF’s efforts.

  VOLUNTEER FOR UNICEF.

  Register online at www.unicefusa.org/volunteer to access special volunteer resources, take online training sessions, communicate with other volunteers, and learn the latest information about UNICEF’s programs and volunteer opportunities.

  TRICK-OR-TREAT FOR UNICEF.

  Visit www.unicefusa.org/trickortreat for free collection boxes and information, then dress up and invite some friends or a younger brother or sister to go out on Halloween and collect money.

  LEARN MORE ABOUT THE STATE OF THE WORLD’S CHILDREN REPORT.

  Educate yourself about UNICEF’s mission to save children’s lives around the world by reading the report at www.unicef.org/sowc07, and encourage your teacher to use online lesson plans at www.TeachUNICEF.org.

  BECOME ONE OF THE VOICES OF YOUTH.

  You can speak out on all kinds of issues, from health to abuse to human rights. To find specific ideas, check out www.unicef.org/voy/takeaction.

  GET YOUR FRIENDS INVOLVED.

  You can create your own fundraising web page and introduce friends and family to UNICEF. Log on to www.unicefusa.org/friendsaskingfriends to find out how.

  Get involved

  BE A FRIEND.

  You never know whose day you might change with a little kindness. Inclusion and friendship are the first steps toward developing trust, and trust can open many doors.

  TAKE ACTION.

  You really can make a difference. Start small, but start.

  PROTECT YOURSELF, PROTECT OTHERS

  Ana’s Story addresses the ways unprotected sex and sexual abuse spread HIV and how other forms of abuse, poverty, exclusion, and the lack of education put children in danger.

  When it comes to HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), STIs don’t care what color your skin is, how much money your family makes, what country you live in, or how old you are. They can infect anyone who gives them a chance.

  However, there are ways you can reduce your risk of contracting a disease or infection. By ending or reporting an abusive relationship, making smart decisions about sex, or just speaking up and educating yourself and the people around you, you can help protect yourself and you can be an example to others.

  No matter what you’ve done or haven’t done, or what’s been done to you in the past, it’s never too late to get the facts and take steps to protect yourself and the people you love.

  If you’re hurting, in trouble, or want guidance, speak with someone you trust—your parents, a sibling, a school counselor, or a religious leader. If you can’t do that—for whatever reason—there are other sources of support and information.

  Protect yourself from HIV/AIDS and other STIs

  GET THE FACTS.

  There are a lot of myths and misinformation about sex out there. There are also a lot of great resources where you can get the truth—like a doctor or a professional organization. Knowing the facts can help you decide what’s right for you.

  MAKE YOUR OWN DECISIONS.

  By getting the facts and educating yourself, you can be empowered to make the decisions that are right for you. Don’t let anyone pressure you into doing something that makes you uncomfortable. Whether you choose to wait until you’re married or older to become sexually active, give yourself as much time as you need to make a well-thought-out and mature decision. When you’re ready, make sure your partner respects your choices.

  REDUCE YOUR RISK.

  There’s only one way to be 100 percent certain you won’t get an STI—abstinence. There are a lot of ways to show you love or care about someone without having sex. If you decide abstinence is right for you, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. But if you decide that you’re ready for a sexual relationship, the best way to protect yourself from HIV and other STIs is to be faithful to your partner and use a condom every time. No exceptions—ever.

  GET TESTED.

  If you have unprotected sex, if the condom fails, or if you’ve been raped or sexually abused in any way, don’t wait to find out whether
you’re HIV-positive or have contracted any other STI. If any test comes back positive, you’ll be able to begin treatment sooner. That could be crucial to living a long, healthy life. And if you become pregnant, you’ll be able to get information about taking care of yourself and your baby.

  Protect yourself from an attack, abuse, and rape

  Sixteen-to nineteen-year-olds are three times more likely than all others to be the victims of rape, attempted rape, or attempted sexual assault.* Remember that it’s never your fault if someone attacks you, but there are ways to protect yourself.

  STAY ALERT AND READY.

  You may love your iPod or MP3 player, but turn it down or take your headphones out when you’re walking or jogging in a place you don’t know well. Be aware of your surroundings and the people around you. Let your parents or guardians know where you will be and when you will return. If possible, keep your cell phone in hand—just in case you need to call for help fast.

  STICK WITH FRIENDS.

  You go to parties, movies, or the mall to mix and hang out, but it’s always a good idea to come and leave with a group of people you know. You should also plan to check in with one another regularly.

  GET OUT OF FRIGHTENING OR UNCOMFORTABLE SITUATIONS.

  No matter where you are, when “no” doesn’t work, leave. Say whatever you need to say to get out of an uncomfortable situation: “My friends and I were going to meet up. They’re probably looking for me,” or “My parents will be home any minute.” Or just go. Don’t worry about anybody thinking you’re not cool—choosing safety is the coolest and most important decision you can make.