Denise was diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the late 1980s and told she might only have one year to live. Here she shares what has given her strength in the decades since. A Bleak Prognosis [In the 1980s], my friends were…
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Daniel had already lived with HIV for many years when he was diagnosed with anal cancer in 2015. Given his existing challenges, he believed he could persevere but that didn’t make his reality any easier. Now cancer-free, when looking back at the experience…
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Jamie, who has managed multiple mental health conditions — and HIV — for many years, reflects on the importance of support and self-care. Growing & Learning Growing up, I knew I was a little different than other kids. When I was a teenager,…
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Sometimes revealing an especially personal or difficult matter to others can change everything — for the better. Saying that is one thing, however, and doing it is something altogether different. Here Matt shares his life-changing decision to reveal his human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)…
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For Art, who was diagnosed with HIV in January 1989, watching the COVID-19 pandemic unfold has been reminiscent of his experience living through the AIDS epidemic that ravaged the US in the 1980s and 1990s. “I grew up in the epicenter of HIV…
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On a recent visit to see his family in Los Angeles, Rick Guasco started chatting with his 27-year-old Lyft driver. He mentioned he worked for an HIV/AIDS service organization in Chicago and the young man confided that he was HIV positive — something…
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Patient advocate Josh Robbins is witty, fun, and super candid. He says, “My decision to disclose on social media that I was living with HIV was because I had the weight of the world telling me to do it. I felt safe enough. It was right for me.”
When you suffer from a chronic illness, it’s natural to feel negative emotions sometimes. The problem is when those emotions take over your life. Just ask Davina “Dee” Conner. After she learned she had HIV in 1997, she hit a low point. For…
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Even though approximately 37 million people around the world live with HIV, it is still an unknown subject for many. I had the chance to meet with five HIV advocates and educators to learn more about positive living. They shared some tremendous insights:…
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Meet Marvin Marvin Anderson works as an award-winning speaker, personal development empowerment coach, author and HIV advocate. He is also the founder of The Stigmocracy Organization. which is working to diminish stigma directed toward individuals infected or affected by HIV/AIDS. We asked Marvin to…
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Along with the serious health effects of life with HIV, it also carries a very heavy emotional burden, in part because of the stigma that is still associated with the disease. We hosted a panel of HIV-positive activists and advocates including Marvin Anderson,…
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This comic by Tatiana Gill was inspired by the amazing people we met at Who Can You Tell? The International Conference on Stigma. Have you been affected by HIV or another health condition? Sign up to share your experiences with Health Stories Project!
Stigma related to HIV has a tremendously destructive impact on individuals, families, and even communities. It can prevent people from getting tested, seeking treatment, or disclosing their diagnosis to those most likely to provide support. Who Can You Tell? The International Conference on…
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Meet Eric Eric Grant is from Atlanta, Georgia and has been HIV+ since 2014. He wants to help others live out loud and believes that living positive can be positive living. We asked Eric to share his story with our app. Check it…
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Health Stories Project was created to give people opportunities to share their personal health experiences and to learn from the experiences of others.