A
woman whose husband cheated on and infected her with the dreaded HIV
virus has forgiven him while sharing the story for others to learn.
Veritee Reed-Hall and her husband Barry
A woman has revealed she forgave her husband after he infected her with HIV - which he contracted during an affair, reports Dailymail.
The woman identified as Veritee Reed-Hall, 63, contracted the virus
from her husband Barry, 65, who had unprotected sex with another woman
while he served in the Merchant Navy.
The husband was forced to confess after he fell ill four years
later and they both tested positive to the virus. Mrs Reed-Hall met
husband Barry in 1983 when they lived in the same area of London. They
married in 1987 and have one daughter.
She said it took her several years to forgive her husband for what
his act of infidelity, which happened while on an eight month trip in
Brazil some 15 years ago.
But Mrs Reed-Hall forgave her husband after he convinced her it was just a one-off incident.
She said: 'My husband had a brief affair when he was working away eight months a year.
'These things happen - I know loads of people who were married
and not together after they had affairs or split up - but we are still
together.
'It was just once. But sadly he was away from home and stressed and a lot of other things were going on.
'I always thought it could be on the cards and I was actually
surprised it didn't happen earlier. But these things happen - and that
was how we got it.
'He did not tell me as he did not want to lose me, so I didn't know he was infected.
'People think what an awful man he must be - they say "you are a victim and a silly woman who trusts someone."
'No, I am not. I am the complete opposite from a silly woman
who does not know reality. But that is my story. It can happen to
anybody.
'People forget that everyone has sex - lots of men and woman
have affairs in marriage - it is a fact in life - this happens all the
time.
'But this all diverts from the real issue - we all have sex, we
all take risks and a lot of people are still not taking precautions.'
Mrs Reed-Hall was a youth worker for 30 years and worked on
campaigns in the late 1980s and early 1990s to raise awareness of HIV
and Aids. Now retired, she also worked as a lecturer at Cornwall
College.
She said doctors were initially dubious and failed to believe the couple could have HIV. She said: 'I was laughed at and told I was being over-cautious.'
But the couple must now take strong medication every day for the rest of their lives and face multiple health problems.
The virus HIV attacks the immune system and can cause Aids, where
patients are open to attack from other illnesses such as kidney failure
or pneumonia. She passed through a lot to overcome the trauma and stigma
attacked to the disease. But, gratefully she is coping very well with
her husband.
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