Intro - Courtney

My name is Courtney. I am 36 years old and from New Jersey. I am a single mom to a son who is 18 years old. I am paralegal for a family lawyer. I was diagnosed in April of 2011 and since that day my life has forever been changed. I been scared to speak about my status because everyone judges you. Some of the first people I told made comments like "You did it to yourself." From that point on I've been pushing it down and living my life not talking about it. I go to all appointments by myself. I hide the medicine bottles. In the end I fell into a major depression. I am in therapy and trying to find where I belong. Then I found The Well Project. I can finally not be ashamed and maybe turn something horrible into something good.

Why Courtney wants to be part of A Girl Like Me: I want to help stop the stigma of HIV. I want to be a change for NJ and I don't want people to be scared to talk or reach out worrying about what others say or think. I know until I found The Well Project, I felt alone. Now I want to put my all into changing the way people see HIV. It's not a death sentence!