Tucson, Arizona
Positive since 1992

I was born and raised in Columbus, Mississippi. I got tested for HIV in Birmingham, Alabama, on June 17, 1992, just a few days before my birthday. When I went to the health department to get my results, they called me into the room but they did not close the two doors to the hallway. People were walking up and down the hallway when the nurse came in the room and said, “Your test came back positive; go die now.” She walked out of the room without calling anyone in to talk to me. I was very angry and went to talk to her boss. I caused her to lose her job, but I did not care after what she did.

Thank goodness I knew about HIV/AIDS. I took care of two guys that were positive, and I learned a lot about it. I learned how to give them their meds, and cleaned, cooked, and did everything in the house. I lived with them five days a week, so that helped me learn about how to take care of myself, and thankfully after 22 years I’m still just HIV positive—I don’t have AIDS. I am doing great and have never been sick or hospitalized. That is my story, I hope it helps.

What three adjectives best describe you?
Caring, loving and giving

What is your greatest achievement?
Knowing what I know now

What is your greatest regret?
Thought I would be the one my mom would have to put in the grave but she left me at age 51.

What keeps you up at night?
I sleep good.

If you could change one thing about living with HIV, what would it be?
The way others still think HIV is a gay thing and a plague

What is the best advice you ever received?
When my mom and stepdad told me, “Don’t worry, we still love you and will always love you no matter what you have or who you are.”

What person in the HIV/AIDS community do you most admire?
My doctor, Linda Gorgos, at El Rio Community Health Center in Tucson, Arizona

What drives you to do what you do?
To help reach out and share my story in hopes that it will touch just one person’s life and let them know there is hope and love and help for anyone that has HIV/AIDS.

What is your motto?
Live life to the fullest and take one day at a time.

If you had to evacuate your house immediately, what is the one thing you would grab on the way out?
My dog, Muffin, and my meds since I have never missed a dose

If you could be any animal, what would you be? And why?
A dog. My dog has shown me unconditional love.