Living With HIV

The diagnosis wasn't a shock. Sooner or later something had to happen.
Three years ago, it did.

F

JENNIFER FINER STAFF WRITER

finding a job hasn't exactly
been easy for Laurence
Bergman. But then again,
living with the knowledge
that he's HIV positive isn't quite
how the 27-year-old Southfield
resident planned to live the rest
of his life either.
The ironic thing is most of the
time he is more frustrated about
his job situation.
"I'm more upset now that I
can't find meaningful work or
support in the commu-
Laurence nity while I'm relative-
Bergman ly healthy," he said.
"That's the depressing
aspect of it.
"I don't want to be a strain on
society. I promised myself a while
ago that I'd dedicate myself to be-
ing a benefit to society. I feel like
people who have the ability to
make a difference are obligated
to do so."
The disease, coupled with a
poor credit rating that resulted
from a heroin addiction that left
him with a six-figure debt, has

THE HOLIDAYS NAY BE OVER
BUT WE'RE STILL CELEBRATING AT

•

precluded his success at finding
employment.
Although he worked briefly as
a valet, he believes the compa-
ny changed his hours and made
his job more difficult once they
found out he was HIV positive.
Hired at a jewelry store, he was
suspended after the firm ran a
credit check and told him that he
could begin after he fixed his
debt.
Mr. Bergman concedes he was
not surprised when his HIV test
came back positive. He was al-
ways conscience of his "reckless
behavior" and routinely went in
for testing.
A 1993 Wayne State Universi-
ty psychology graduate, Mr.
Bergman started heavily using
drugs when he was 14. He was
exposed to them through his
youth-group friends.
Shortly after his college grad-
. uation, Mr. Bergman moved to
New York to get a master's de-
gree in psychology. It was about
the same time that he was diag-

nosed with the disease, acquired
through careless drug use.
Mr. Bergman doesn't ask "Why
me?"
"My father," he said, "instilled
in me the notion that there is a
punishing God. My dad is chang-
ing his views, but I've held on to
that belief."
After learning he was HIV pos-
itive, Mr. Bergman didn't think
his life would last much longer,
and his reckless behavior inten-
sified.
Once a successful sculptor, he
spent almost everything he had
on heroin. For eight months, Mr.
Bergman lived, homeless, in New
York. Some of his time was spent
living on the streets. Other days
were passed in and out of the hos-
pital and in homeless shelters.
"I couldn't stand it," he said.
"The shelter does what it can to
keep you in the system."
Two separate stays at drug re-
hab facilities helped Mr. Berg-
man kick his habit. He hasn't
used illegal drugs for a few years.

"Because Plumbing Doesn't
Have To Be Boring."

and gallery

STOREWIDE SALE

20% and Nord

Cr)

U.J

Cr)

OUR STORE IS STILL FILLED WITH
GREAT GIFTS FOR YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS!

w

-

CD
CC

UJ

CD

8

IN THE ORCHARD MALL
ORCHARD LAKE ROAD AT MAPLE
WEST BLOONFIELD
(610) 655-4466

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
Friday, Saturday 10:00-5:50
Thursday 10:00-5:00

Item under $25.00 excluded, special orders,
previous sales and discounted items are not included.

A

dvance Plumbing Supply Company's showroom features the latest
products the plumbing industry has to offer.

Exceptional brands such as Kohler, Dombracht, Franke, Porcher & American
China are favorites of interior designers and builders alike.
Come see our showroom & let our knowledgeable sales staff make your bath
& kitchen ideas come to life.

ADVANCE

7:)truidegf

Viiecttew9

.5,0,724

Store hours are 7:30-5 Mon.-Fri., 8-3 Sat., or other times by appointment.
1977 W. Maple Road, Walled Lake (Between Haggerty & Decker Rds.)

(810) 669-7474

