My mother unknowingly passed it to me.
Luckily, my father and brother did not get HIV, which was really just a matter of statistics.
One out of three children will contract HIV through childbirth when the mother is not on anti-viral medication.
The one happened to be me.
In regards to my father, HIV is harder to pass from a woman to a man.
Thus, my father being negative.
I did not have any symptoms leading to the diagnosis, but my mother did.
We found out we were HIV positive.
Contracting HIV in the early 90s was very different, and far more difficult, than it is today.
My mother passed away April 16th, 1996.
She lived two years after being diagnosed with AIDS.
Growing up, I always knew I had something called HIV.
Given that it was a death sentence at the time, I lived in fear every day.
I was told I would only make it to 13-years-old, if I was lucky.
It made me feel I was a freak; especially because everyone called me one.
Having HIV today is so different.
Weve left HIVs death sentence era behind.
I made it past my death date, and I do not have another.
I do not take someone elses lack of education personally.
I take it as an opportunity to educate, and most of the time, people are grateful.
When I removed my own stigmas about what it meant to have HIV, I was met with self-acceptance.
I am so set in my own truth, the opinions of others have become irrelevant.
90% of my friends would have no idea where to go to get tested.
Fearless testing is not in todays world.
The risk is not knowing, yet people fear getting tested.
Accessible information surrounding HIV and STIs would change how people manage their health.
I felt so free and alive, how could I not share!
Already having a passion to serve others, HIV gave me a direction in which to serve.
I attained a BA of Science in Human Services to further my ability in helping others.
My goal is to guide my clients toward self acceptance and living a happy fulling intentional life.
As for my life today, I am so happy and content.
I own my home, live on a half acre with my animals, including a potbelly pig.
I eat a plant based diet followed by adopting a Vegan lifestyle.
I love my life and I love everyone in it.
As for my career, I do many different things.
Coaching, photography, music, writing, speaking, and baking.
