disclosure

I come here when things are rough. When my head is so full I have to put it on paper. I can't say that I put it all here.

As I continue to blog and open up about my story for the first time, I hope to give readers insight into how a former barber from Rancho Cucamonga, CA turned an HIV diagnosis into the biggest blessing of her life.

Words have tremendous power. That dumb ass saying about sticks and stones makes sense to say to kids, because its coming from an adult perspective with the experience of having learned to deal with the pain of harsh words.

Yo siempre estoy educando a los demás. Las personas que deberían saberlo, no lo saben. Crecieron cuando comenzó la epidemia del VIH. Entonces, comparto mi historia porque quiero ayudar a la gente. NECESITAMOS HABLAR SOBRE EL VIH.

I'm constantly educating people. People that should know, don't. They grew up when the HIV epidemic started. So, I share my story because I want to help people. WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT HIV.

I have been visiting Japan and Korea over the past 5 weeks. That is why you haven't heard from me. I would like to share my learning from those two countries.

El estigma es más mortífero que la enfermedad en sí, y el conductor principal del estigma del VIH, en mi opinión, es la iglesia.

Stigma is deadlier than the disease itself, and the top driver of HIV stigma, in my opinion, is the church.

It doesn't matter how you became positive; what matters is how you live your positive life.

Love has a curious way of defying our expectations and leading us down uncharted paths. My journey with Maximo is a testament to this unpredictability, a story of love, acceptance, and personal growth that challenged my beliefs and ultimately enriched my life.