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 tremendous success. As a Latino gay man, I have navigated the unique cultural and social pressures that come with this diagnosis, and I never thought that I would be the person I am today. That change in me is directly 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 felt alone, not because of a 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 realized that taking control of my health started with a commitment to my treatment plan. I ensured that I stayed healthy by going to all of my doctor's appointments and strictly adhering to taking my medication every day.

This daily ritual became a source of strength rather than a burden. At this point in time, I even became undetectable. I found confidence within the 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, counseling 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 to 10 (2022 – 2024)

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 his whole life was going to change. Staying undetectable through consistent medication adherence gave me the health and longevity to see my career flourish.

Year 11 and beyond (2025 - 2026)

Now, more than a decade into this journey, I am proud to say that I am now a Senior Program Manager for a non-profit organization leading the fight against HIV. I ensure that everyone I connect with receives the education and support that I needed when I was younger. In my decade plus of living with HIV, I continue to attend the United States Conference on HIV/AIDS as both a leader and an advocate. Living with HIV for over ten years has taught me that the pill I take every morning is more than just medicine—it’s my daily commitment to a long, vibrant life. I look forward to continuing to build my skills and my community for many decades to come.