I need to unload this burden...

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About two days ago one of my staffs approached me. He has been absent for quite a while. As I can remember he has been absent for two weeks. He was confined in the hospital. This staff has been under my Supervision for almost a year now. This rarely happens. Why? Because usually in our company every three months the Supervisor of our staffs change. This is to avoid being too close with any of the employees under our Supervision which the Management believes would create favoritism. My Manager decided to maintain me as this employee's Supervisor because according to him the employee needs close Supervision and monitoring and needs good influence. This staff used to be absent three times each month, late 8 - 11 times a month, over- break almost everyday and do other stuffs considered as company's violation. However, he changed because of me. Maybe I'm really a good influence to him. He listens to me and to my advices. He is a gay and is just 20 years old. So we may say he is not really that mature yet. He is living on his own. His parents got separated. His Mom is living abroad and his father has a family of his own now. He grew up with his grandmother. About two days ago when he approached me I almost cried in his front. He looks so worried and gloomy- not his usual self. He is always happy. My first question to him was, "Why? Are you broken- hearted?" I knew he is in a relationship with a man. He said, "No. I am HIV positive." I was so shocked. I don't know what to say. I was dumbfounded. I did not talk. I just listened to him. I knew he was scared specially if people in the office would know about it. After we talked I talked to my Manager who is also a best friend of mine. I told him about one of my staffs situation. I'm also concerned about his situation. My Manager went to our HR Department and we talked to our HR Director and HR Manager. I made a sigh of relief when I have learned that the company will not dismiss the employee and would even help him. So I talked to my staff about it and we both decided to reach out to our HR Manager. We went to the HR together with my Manager. There, our HR Manager explained to us that his case would remain confidential and that no one except us should knew about it. We will be his support group in the company. No one else should know about his situation to protect him as well. He said he felt depressed when he learned about his situation. It's a good thing he is having a counseling. It will help him. Until now I can't believe that it could happen to someone I knew. I hope both of us will be able to remain strong for each other. As his Supervisor I don't feel like I'm just his Boss. I always feel accountable to my staff and I always feel protective over them. That's also the reason I get mad, upset and sometimes emotional whenever they do something that I already told them they should not do. It is because I have this passion within me to influence them and help them realize their potentials. I don't always pray but now I'm praying that the Lord gives me strength so that I will remain strong for him and all my other staffs who believe in me and need me. This is too much for me to handle and since I can't confide to anyone else about this I'm thankful there is Mylot where I can unload this burden. I hope this will make me feel better.