Kankakee, Illinois
Positive since 2004 

I was diagnosed with HIV at the age of 27. I never thought it would happen to me. I was involved in a relationship with some one who died in July 2003. He didn’t tell me that he had AIDS until he was on his deathbed. Four other women also became infected.

I’ve been positive for 10 years and on this journey I’ve had some trials and tribulations, but God helped me through my struggles with addiction. I’ve been in recovery for five years now.

I was afraid I would never find love again but I did. In July 2012 I met a man and disclosed my status to him. I was afraid of the rejection, but he never left me. He gets involved with my doctor appointments and asks me questions about my health. God has given me something that I thought I would never have, and that’s a relationship with someone who is HIV negative.

Don’t let this disease control you. You can control HIV because you can still live a normal life despite the virus.

What adjectives best describe you?
Loving, funny, outgoing and compassionate

What is your greatest achievement?
Having a mate that doesn’t worry about my status

What is your greatest regret?
Not being able to share my story sooner

What keeps you up at night?
Knowing that there are people who are scared to get tested

If you could change one thing about living with HIV, what would it be?
I wouldn’t change anything because it has only made me stronger

What is the best advice you ever received?
The best advice I ever received was to tell my story and to help others to not contract this disease

What person in the HIV/AIDS community do you most admire?
I admire every person who is living with this disease and fighting the fight.

What drives you to do what you do?
My passion and determination to tell people get tested

What is your motto?
If you love yourself and your mate, get tested together

If you had to evacuate your house immediately, what is the one thing you would grab on the way out?
My mate and my Galaxy tablet

If you could be any animal, what would you be? And why?
I would be a lion because they are fierce and strong.