Would you adopt a child who is HIV-positive?
My husband and I discuss adoption frequently. The beauty and courage involved is alluring. It’s a dream we both share. But we’ve never considered this:
Would we be willing to adopt a child who is HIV-positive?
My gut reaction is,
“Of course! I wouldn’t even give it a second thought!”
But I’ve had the privilege of spending a week with a group of Ugandan children, all of whom were HIV-positive. I would have happily taken home one of those precious children.
But then, the follow-up questions arise.
- What ramifications, both financially and medically, would we have to consider?
- How might it affect any other children we may have?
- Are we prepared to deal with the social stigma, fear and ignorance surrounding HIV, possibly for many years to come?
We never reached a decision, mostly because it was a question that arose from a book I had finished reading rather than a desire to adopt a child here and now.
But it was good to discuss and prayerfully consider, because arguably an orphan who is HIV-positive has a more recognizable need for the love of a family and the hope of Jesus Christ.
So, what do you think? Would you be willing to adopt a child who is HIV-positive?