Marion, Indiana
Positive since 1999

I was diagnosed with HIV in 1999 when I was three months pregnant with my youngest son, Isaiah. It was hard to be six months pregnant and take a medication that made me feel horrible in addition to the usual morning sickness.

Isaiah was born negative and I thank God every day for blessing me with a very healthy child. I recently had blood work done and found out that my CD4 count is below 100. My body has become resistant to a regimen that I was put on last year. I have also been told that I have Stage I dementia. I have always taken my meds and done what I’m supposed to do, but for whatever reason my body has not taken well to a lot of the drug regimens my doctor has tried.

I have lost everything and had to move in with my mother because I am sick most of the time. There are times I want to throw up my hands and just give up, but I have faith and the most amazing love you could have from my three kids. They are the reason I crawl out of bed every day no matter how bad I feel. My kids are my life. No matter how bad you think your life may be, there is always someone out there whose life is 10 times worse.

I have been knocked down over and over; I just get right back up, brush it off and keep moving. Never think you are alone.

What three adjectives best describe you?
Strong, loving and caring

What is your greatest achievement?
Getting my GED and CNA certification

What is your greatest regret?
Meeting the man who infected me. Not going to college.

What keeps you up at night?
Thinking about all the things I can do to get my life back in order and get healthy again

If you could change one thing about living with HIV, what would it be?
I wouldn’t tell anyone. I live in a small town where everyone knows, so people really don’t talk to me.

What is the best advice you ever received?
Always be yourself. Never try to be like someone else because you are special in your own way.

What person in the HIV/AIDS community do you most admire?
POZ magazine! I am grateful to everyone who supports the HIV/AIDS community.

What drives you to do what you do?
My children

What is your motto?
Never give up!

If you had to evacuate your house immediately, what is the one thing you would grab on the way out?
A picture of my father. He passed away four years ago from cancer. I miss him terribly.

If you could be any animal, what would you be? And why?
A colorful bird, just to be free and fly wherever you want, whenever you want