My Diagnosis Journey: A Decade with HIV

I have been living with HIV for over a decade now and it has been a journey full of obstacles, growth, and success. I never thought that I would be the person I am today and that change in me is due to my diagnosis back in 2014.

Year one (2015)

The moment I was diagnosed I was filled with uncertainty, doubt, fear, and shame. I felt the emotional and life-altering weight of receiving this type of news and wanted to bury it so deep inside of me that no one would ever find it.

Even though I wanted to hide, I felt a greater need to learn more about what my diagnosis meant and learn all that I could about what this virus would do to my body. I learned very quickly that I was alone, not because of lack of resources or community but because I was scared to share my story and be vulnerable.

Year 2 to 4 (2016 – 2018)

As time passed and I learned more about what it meant to be living with HIV, I started going to workshops on HIV/AIDS at local organizations around me. I ensured that I stayed healthy by going to all of my doctors appointments, as well as taking my medication every day.

At this point in time, I even became undetectable. I found confidence within community and built on those relationships to ensure that I had a strong foundation of support. It was around the third year when I finally felt peace in saying out loud that I was HIV-positive. The more and more I openly shared with people about my diagnosis, the easier it got.

Year 5 to 7 (2019 – 2021)

Being so open with my diagnosis after a few years meant that many people within my community looked to me for guidance and strength. Early on I realized that I needed to maintain confidence in myself if others were looking to me for support. I decided to go back to school and pursue a degree in public health and even started working as an Outreach Coordinator leading HIV prevention and education initiatives in my own community.

I acknowledged that when I was first diagnosed, I had a great support system of gay men but did not have many individuals who were already living with HIV who I could talk with. During this time, I decided to start my own group for men living with HIV and took it upon myself to build a support system for those who may have been diagnosed after me.

Year 8 and 9 (2022 – 2023)

After a few years in the field of public health I not only graduated but worked my way up to supervising staff who implement HIV prevention and education programs. I developed a strong support system of professionals who have asked me to speak about my story and what it means to be living with HIV.

I have been a part of many health campaigns and leadership groups where I can share my advocacy with the world. It was during this time when I realized that I was no longer the nervous 21-year-old who just found out that their whole life was going to change.

Year 10 (2024)

I am proud to say that I am now a Senior Program Manager for a non-profit organization leading the fight against HIV and ensuring that everyone I connect with receives the education and support that I needed when I was younger. In year 10 of my diagnosis, I was able to go to my first ever United States Conference on HIV/AIDS and hope to continue building my skills towards being a great advocate.