The Life of Josh

Hello! Welcome to our Twine Game, The Life of Josh. This is a decision-making game in which you are in control of the main character, Josh. This game is meant to teach you how a person can contract HIV/AIDS. You will make decisions about how you want to handle this illness. This game is meant to show the player that there are always resources available if people seek them. Click on party to start ---[[Party]]

You are playing as a recent University of Wisconsin Milwaukee graduate named Josh, who lives in Milwaukee, WI. You have recently been hired for a full time position within your career. Your best friend just invited you to his party. Once you arrive to the party you go inside and look for your best friend. When you eventually find him, you notice him talking to a very attractive girl. You have never seen her before, so your friend introduces you to the girl. Her name is Maggie and you begin to hit it off. You find out a little about her and realize you both have a lot in common. You and Maggie take some shots together and continue to hang out. Maggie then asks you if you have ever tried heroin. Then you respond: [[No I've never been around it]] [[Yes I have tried it once.]]

Maggie then proceeds to pull out a needle with heroin in it. Maggie: Well I have some with me..do you want to try it? You respond: [[No]], I don't think it's really for me...but I was thinking we could go do something else instead. or [[Why not?]] We are at a party so might as well!

Maggie is surprised by your response, she then proceeds to pull out a needle with heroin in it. Maggie: Do you want to do it again? I'm going to if you want to join me. You respond with: [[No]] I don't think it's really for me but we could just do something else instead. or [[Why not?]] We are at a party so might as well!

Maggie understands your decesion and asks what you have in mind. You then ask her if she wants to go upstairs and have sex instead. She likes the idea but still wants to do heroin. After she injects it, you both go to the upstairs bedroom. You don't have protection with you but Maggie didn't ask about it so you continue anyway. You wake up the following morning only to realize that Maggie has left. You felt like you had a really good time with Maggie so you are upset that she left without saying anything. You then go downstairs to ask your friend for Maggie's number. As soon as you get her number you start to contemplate whether you should call her or not. [[Call her]] [[Don't call her]]

You and Maggie go upstairs into a room alone and inject heroin using the same needle. You both get extremely high and pass out on the bed together. The following morning you wake up only to find that Maggie is no longer there. You felt like you had a really good time with Maggie so you are upset that she left without saying anything. You then go downstairs to ask your friend for Maggie's number. As soon as you get her number you start to contemplate whether you should call her or not. [[Call her]] [[Don't call her]]

You dial her number and begin to call her. Maggie answers the call Maggie: Hello, who is this? You: Hey it's Josh from the party. I was surprised to see you weren't there when I woke up this morning. Maggie remembers you and instatnly changes her tone of voice. Maggie: Josh...I am so sorry about last night. You are confused. You: What are you sorry about? I thought we had a good time? In a sad and nervous tone of voice Maggie says: I am really sorry Josh, I did not know how to tell you last night, I was really high and drunk too.. I have AIDS Josh... You respond with: Are you serious?! [[What am I supposed to do now?]] How could you do this to me?! Then [[you hang up]] (AIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome)

It's a few weeks after the party and you are beginning to feel sick. Another week goes by and you feel you haven't gotten any better, you think you might have the flu and it just won't seem to go away. Do you [[tell your doctor]] about how you've been feeling or [[wait it out, it's just the flu]]?

Maggie takes a slight pause and suggests that you immediately contact your doctor. She apologizes once again and hangs up the call. You immediately call to [[tell your doctor]].

You are furious with your actions from last night and begin to sob. Your best friend asks you what is wrong and you tell him about the news you just receieved. Your friend has sympathy for you. You talk about what you should do now. He suggests that you see your doctor or talk with other people who are HIV positive. He says that they would probably know good places to go for help and can relate to how you're feeling. You don't want to be embarrsesd by going to your doctor and want to talk with someone who knows how you're feeling. You decide to [[look online]] for a support group. You take precaution and [[tell your doctor]].

After looking online for a little bit, you come across a place called The AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin. It happens to be in Milwuakee near you and you have read good reviews on it. You're interested in going and checking out the ARCW, but you still don't know if you would be better off just going to see your doctor. [[Look into a support group]] [[tell your doctor]]

After you have explained your symptoms to your doctor, you also mention what you did with Maggie in case it has something to do with how you're feeling. After discussing with your doctor, he suggests that you have blood work done because of what you have told him. The test results come back and your doctor gives you a call. Doctor: Hello Josh, I am sorry to inform you that the results show you to be HIV positive. I know this is not what you wanted to hear but there is medication that can help you. You should start a treatment plan right away. You: I can't believe this. Will I still be able to live a normal life? Doctor: The medication will help you to feel better and help you live as normal as possible. You are devastated and then begin to wonder if you should inform your employer about your condition since your illness could affect your work. Do you: [[Inform your employer about your condition.]] [[Keep it a secret, you don't want to stand out at work. ]] (HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus)

Another week has gone by and you're still not feeling any better. People at work are asking you if you're feeling okay, even your boss has mentioned that he thinks you should go to the doctor. You don't want to miss work for an appointment because of how busy you are. Do you [[tell your doctor]] or do you think you'll get better soon and just [[continue to go to work]]?

You haven't gotten any better, you've actually gotten sicker. You have been calling into work because of how sick you feel. You can only miss so many days of work so you have to go in when you are still not feeling well. Your boss pulls you aside. Boss: Josh you cannot be coming into work in this condition, for your sake and the sake of the other employees. You: I'm sorry I have already used almost all of my sick days and had no other choice but to come into work. I didn't want to risk losing my job over missing too much work. Boss: If you are able to get a [[ doctor's note]], I can give you more time off. You: Thank you, I will go as soon as I can get in.

You: Do you think we could speak in private? I need to talk to you about something. Boss: Of course, come to my office. You: I have recently been diagnosed to be HIV positive. I will continue to get sicker and don't want to lose my job, I really need money for medication. I think this will begin to affect my work. What do you suggest I do? Boss: I'm really sorry to hear that Josh. I know you are a good worker and we don't want to lose you. I can offer you a job to work from home. This way you can have flexible hours and be in the comfort of your home. If you ever feel up to coming into work, you still can. I want to help you and do what's best for both of us, however I will have to decrease your pay a little bit because we will need to find a replacement for your other job. You: I think that sounds like a good plan. Thank you for understanding, I really appreciate this offer and your consideration. You [[accept the offer and work from home.]]

You tell employer that it is just a bad flu and you can continue to work now that you have the doctor's note. As a few days go by you start to feel very nauseous from the medication that your doctor prescribed to you. It is becoming an expense to pay off your medication and you are also not showing up to work because you are too sick to leave your house. Your absenes at work get noticed and your boss calls you in to his office. Boss: Josh you have used all of your sick days and are still calling in sick. The company can't afford to not have you here working. You: I'm sorry I have really been trying to come in but I just haven't felt well enough. Boss: I understand and this is why we cannot afford to keep you here any longer. I'm sorry Josh, we need an employee who we can count on to get their work done. You: I understand, thank you for giving me this opportunity. I am sorry I let you down. [[Look for another job else where.]]

You now work from home but since your hours and pay have been cut you think you should look into some places that may be able to help you with your condition and needs. After researching online you come across a place called the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin. You liked what you have read about them and saw that they have recieved awards. You want to talk to someone in person about what they do and how they could help you so you [[go to the Aids Resource Center of Wisconsin]].

You're struggling to find a new job in your field of work. You know by law that employers cannot descriminate againt applicants because of their medical conditions, however you feel this may be the reason why you have not been recieving calls back about interviews or being hiried. You're beginning to worry about how you will continue to pay for your medication. You decide to look online for a place that can help with the costs. You come across a place called The AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin. You read that their goal is "To help every patient achieve HIV treatment success and a healthy life". This interests you and you feel they will be able to help you with your problem. You decide to go to the ARCW and [[talk with them in person]].

You go to the Aids Resource Center of Wisconsin (ARCW) and talk with a supervisor. You find out that if you are unemployed, have low income, or simply cannot afford the cost of HIV medications the ARCW pharmacy will help you pay for it if you apply for a program called Medication Assistance Program. The ARCW offers medical, mental, and dental services for their clients. They also have a food pantry where you can recieve 3 to 5 days worth of food once a month and bread everyday. You found the best possible service to help you live a happy and healthy life while having HIV. Congatulations, you win! Play again --> [[Welcome!]]

After talking with a supervisor, you find out that if you are unemployed, have low income, or simply cannot afford the cost of HIV medications the ARCW pharmacy will help you pay for it. You have to apply for a program called Medication Assistance Program. You apply for the program and get excepted. You no longer have to worry about how you will afford your medication, as well as your mental and dental needs. They also have a food pantry where you can recieve 3 to 5 days worth of food once a month.You found the best possible service to help you live a happy and healthy life while having HIV. Congatulations, you win! Play again --> [[Welcome!]]

You arrive at the clinic only to remember that you do not have health insurance. Since you're a new employee at your job you're not able to apply for health insurance until you have completed your first six months. You have to pay your bills at the beginning of the month, which you just did. You realize you usually don't have a lot of money left after you pay the bills. You go on your phone to check your account balance and all you have remaining is $300. You know that a doctor's appointment on average can cost up to $200 without health insurance. You also know you won't be getting paid until the end of the month and there is three weeks left for this month. You feel like if you were to just buy over the counter medicine at your local pharmacy you could recover from your flu. However, you do need a doctor's note if you want to extend your sick days. Maybe the medicine could help, espeically with chicken noodle soup. [[Pay the fee and get your health checked out]] [[Stick with the cheaper option]]

You go inside and pay the fee, you are told that you will be served in 15 minutes. The doctor calls your name and brings you inside one of the rooms. He asks you what's wrong, you begin to tell him how you've been sick for the past couple of weeks and it keeps getting worse. The docotor claims it could be the flu, but if it's getting worse it could be some kind of virus. He tells you that you could purchase a Tamiflu medication to see if that helps. The choice is very ideal but costs over a $100 and you're very tight with money right now. You could just skip this option and go purchase over the counter medicine at your pharmacy. [[Stick with the cheaper option]] and take your docotor's note to cover today. You [[tell your doctor]] there is something else he might need to know.

You go to your local Walgreens to purchase some ibuprofen then stop by a market to pick up some soup and tea. You begin to feel a little better so you decide to go back to work. Two weeks go by and you still feel like crap. You don't have a doctor's note so you cannot miss work again or else you'll risk getting fired. You show up to work the following day and half through your shift you begin to feel nauseous. You go to the bathroom to splash some water on your face and before you know it you black out. You wake up in the hospital and find out that you have been diagnosed with a severe condition of AIDS. You are told that it is life threating and since you have waited so long, it is too late for a recovery. The doctor tells you you only have two months to live. Try again --> [[Welcome!]]

You found a good support group online and started talking with someone named Paul. He helps comfort you during this hard time. He tells you that he has been going to the Aids Resource Center of Wisconsin for 3 years. He talks about how nice the staff is and how much they have helped him. He tells you that they can help you too and that you should look into it. You decide to [[go to the Aids Resource Center of Wisconsin]] to see how they can help you.