pregnancy, HIV+ mothers, family

There is a different kind of pain in realizing the people who gave you life aren't necessarily the people who make you feel safe.

For a long time, I thought silence was protecting me. I thought if I didn't say something out loud, maybe it wouldn't feel real.

At 48 I look back at my life and it's clear that the only reason I'm standing here with my Beeb and NuNu is because Jesus literally has saved me.

I write because I love writing, and I have loved it since I was seven. I am honest about my life, some say too honest.

A definition does not allow room for growth. Life with HIV is not definitive; it is change. It is growth.

I know the world feels like it's falling apart. Most of it is. But just make time to do the things that bring you joy. Don't wait until later.

Your experiences, your love, your strength — all of it matters. Even in hardship, there is light.

I have worn many hats over the years but my favorite, my passion, is advocate.

Even amidst all the pain and grief, I was overwhelmed and proud to see the living proof of how many lives my daughter had touched with her positively uplifting ways.

I would like to find sisterhood, mentorship, and support to overcome shared challenges and build self-esteem.