ANNA

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I AM

My children call me a woman with many talents. I could have been a florist, an interior styler, or even an expert in arts & crafts. Instead, I chose to focus on hiv advocacy and share my story to heal and help others along the way.

OPEN

By knowing my status, I was confronted with a dilemma; How to overcome the pain and when to share my status with others. When would it be the right time? Would there ever be a right time?

Honestly, being quiet doesn’t fit my profile. This is not me, I can’t be quiet about something that affects so many people. Why should I not prevent others from going through the same pain; why should I not take power over my own story and educate others?

To me, what I’m doing today is only a reflection of who I am and who I have always been. And the silence was driving me insane. I tried to remain quiet for a couple of years and it didn’t work.

So I decided to share that I’m a women living with hiv. It heals my pain and it may help someone along the way. Together we can make a change!