Janet spent the entire first term at home as she struggled to come to terms with what was happening within and around her world.
She finally gathered enough strength, went back to the hospital where the diagnosis had happened, and was given medication to take while in school.
Her mother accompanied her to school and explained to the principal what was going on before she was allowed to class.
Her condition however worsened, forcing her mother to pick a few weeks later. They went to the hospital where it was established that her viral load was worsening.
"I was at my lowest moment. My mother sat me down and we had a deep mother-daughter conversation after which I resolved to rise up and confront life," she said.
Armed with medication, and a new-found determination, Janet says she went back to school, not just to conquer the KCSE exams, but the virus that was threatening to chaw down her dreams.
One Saturday afternoon, the school's dorm mistress conducted an impromptu search, and, unfortunately, stumbled upon her medication.
Janet says she was abashed when the mistress called her out in front of other teachers.
"I felt like no one would want to associate with me. The matter reached the Principal's office, who was kind enough to help me get back on my feet," she narrates.
When exam results were announced, Janet mustered a low grade. While she was gutted, it never came to her as a shocker.
But she was later introduced to the Operation Triple Zero (OTZ) Programme, which runs under the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The programme seeks to empower adolescents and young people living with HIV/AIDS to take charge of their state of health
Here, she would meet fellow youngsters living with the virus and share life experiences while encouraging each other to adhere to clinic appointments to minimise the viral load.
Janet also says she had once visited one of her aunts when she learned that she (the aunt) was also living positively.
"I wanted someone to talk to and thought one of my aunts who is my best friend would give me a listening ear. After we had a conversation and shared what I was going through, I almost ran into shock when she disclosed to me that she was HIV positive and on medication," she said.
She reveals that although she has a father and other siblings, they do not know that she is HIV positive except for her mother and aunt.
"One night I went for a gig in Westlands and had a crush on someone. I threw my glances and he fell for me. We had a discussion about my status and to my surprise he was also living positively. We agreed on how we would manage our relationship and our family differences before I moved in with him," she lets it out.
Janet and her husband are now blessed with a son, who is HIV-Negative
"This is the reason I have chosen to remain silent about my status because I do not want to lose my family and friends," she discloses.
"Currently, my husband and I have a 0 viral load meaning the chances of us transmitting the virus to each other are zero. Sometimes, we have unprotected sex, sometimes we protect ourselves but above all, we encourage each other to take medication and follow through with hospital appointments", Janet says.
As Kenya joins the rest of the world in observing World Mental Health Awareness Month, she says she is grateful that she never ended up as a statistic, of people tussling with depression and other mental issues as a result of their HIV statuses.
"Living with HIV is like controlling a visitor in your body, it is not the end. What I want the young people to know is that in this life things happen, if you have doubts about your relationships pause..... and if you have to engage in sex, then use protection because just like me, you can have a loyal partner who someday in their life had a low moment," she said.
"I accepted my fate and moved on. I have no hatred with my ex-boyfriend, we still live in the same locality and see him almost daily but I am happy that he is doing fine," Janet concludes.
