Nineteen years ago, my life changed in an instant.
At the time, I was a happy, healthy, divorced single mum of three children. I had a thriving career, was active in my community as a secondary school governor, and enjoyed a full and joyful social life. From the outside, everything looked wonderful. On the inside, I was about to face one of the most life-altering revelations of my life: I found out I was living with HIV.
The news shattered me. I didn't know what to do. I was overwhelmed with fear—not just about my health, but about what people would say. What would they think of me? Would they judge me? Would they blame me? I felt the weight of the world press down on my shoulders, and instead of reaching out, I stayed silent. Continue reading...
