HIV diagnosis

Soy la primera subdirectora de The Well Project y me gustaría aprovechar la oportunidad para presentarme. Me identifico como una mujer mexicana, inmigrante y una chica del sur de California desde la raíz. Soy madre de un amorcito de 3 años, esposa amorosa y amada, hermana e hija mayor. También soy sobreviviente de toda la vida del VIH.

I am the first deputy director for The Well Project and would like to take the opportunity to introduce myself. I identify as a Mexican mujer, immigrant, and a Southern California girl through and through. I am the mother of a 3-year old ray of sunshine, a loving and loved spouse, a sister, and an eldest daughter. I am also a lifelong survivor of HIV.

Who told God I was that tough? I'm really not though. I've been through a lot of stuff in my life. A lot I have yet to share. Right now I'm going through one of the toughest battles I've endured.

Hello! I'm Kenya. I'm 28 years old, married, I have three daughters, and yes, I am HIV positive. I was diagnosed four years ago, and I'm still standing, fighting, moving forward, and even with all the stones along my upward path, my tireless feet continue to climb! But it wasn't always like this...

¡Hola! Soy Kenya, de 28 años de edad, casada, con 3 hijas, y sí, soy VIH positiva. Hace 4 años fue que me detectaron y sigo en pie, luchando, dándole para adelante, con muchas piedras en cuesta arriba de mi camino, ¡pero con unos pies incansables para seguir subiendo! Aunque, no siempre fue así...

Era 1985 y tenía 21 años cuando el presidente Ronald Reagan anunció al mundo el principio de una nueva enfermedad: GRID o inmunodeficiencia asociada a la homosexualidad, más tarde conocida como síndrome de inmunodeficiencia adquirida o SIDA. Recuerdo específicamente haber escuchado las palabras "asociada a la homosexualidad", así que, claro, pensé que no tenía nada de qué preocuparme.

It was 1985, I was 21 years old and President Ronald Reagan announced to the world the genesis of a new disease; G.R.I.D. or the Gay Related Immune Disorder, later known as Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome or AIDS. I specifically recall hearing the words 'gay-related' so of course I thought I had nothing to worry about.

HIV/AIDS activist, advocate, mother, and wife born with HIV, Kimberly grew up unaware that she was living with HIV until a week before her 10th birthday. Both of her parents passed from AIDS...

This blog was not easy to write… Yes, HIV took my motherhood… Back in those times when I was diagnosed, we had no medicine. At least, I didn't have any access to treatment in Colombia, my country...

I practice getting in my own way like it's an artform. Sometimes, when things seem to be going really smoothly, I experience this sense of uneasiness like I'm waiting for the next trauma to unravel in front of me like a red carpet.