MariaHIVMejia's blog

Estoy muy emocionados de anunciar que voy a estar haciendo otro Keynote (discurso como oradora principal) en El Paso, Texas! Espero poder conocer a algunos de ustedes que viven alrededor de la zona! Es en febrero 2016! María, usted ha sido invitada a la quinta Conferencia Anual de Competencia Cultural en El Paso, Texas, el Viernes, 26 de febrero 2016. En la Universidad de Texas Tech en la Oficina de Diversidad, Inclusión y Salud Global… Sí, es para los próximo año. Y tengo la agenda bastante llena hasta ese entonces! Este es un don de palabra que tengo y se siente tan bueno saber que cada vez...

Maria, you have been invited to the 5th Annual Cultural Competence Conference in El Paso, Texas on Friday, February 26, 2016. Texas Tech University Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Global Health… YES, it is for next year. I am pretty booked until then! This is a gift that I have and it feels so good to know that every time I speak I touch people and even make them cry. I started speaking in panels and in every place you can think of. With keynotes you are on your own and you have to speak for one hour plus! I never use power point (unless requested). I may have a small note with pointers...

What a proud moment when I was selected to be a part of the very deep campaign for Greater than AIDS for women, HIV, Trauma, Domestic violence and Intimate partner violence.

Well where do I start? It is no secret that I have been going through one of the toughest times of my life. I thought I may not be able to go, but how can I cancel when they gave me a partial scholarship… and The Well Project, where I blog, I am on their CAB and their Global Ambassador, assisted me in every way to show my presence as a Latina activist / advocate there!! So I said "Maria, push through, truck it and be real with what you are feeling emotionally and mentally." It was not easy to go through severe depression. Being in that comfort zone or that dark hole at home and all of sudden...

I have been going through one of the roughest times of my life and I wanted to show the world that it is ok to be a strong woman and ask for help at the same time. Being a part of the Greater Than AIDS campaign for HIV and IPV resurfaced many issues I had that I thought had healed...but the reality is that I was just glued together...I had not healed and now I am in intensive therapy for the first time in my life. I was in a very dark space...greater than any other pain I had felt before and I really wanted to end the pain and just be free. I am so happy my wife pushed for us to get help...

Cito buen amigo el Dr. Ben Young (oficial médico jefe IAPAC) "El Medicamento para el VIH previenen la enfermedades, la muerte y las nuevas infecciones. Entonces, ¿cómo hacer con su país el acceso y pautas de medicamentos para el VIH? ¿Y para las mujeres, los niños o las poblaciones clave? Averigüe en Policy Watch VIH de IAPAC." Mi afirmación: Voy a decirles algo. Me negué al medicamento durante 10 años! En el principio, ya que en 1991 tenía 18 años y querían que yo tomara AZT en dosis altas y querían que firmara un documento que decía que podría dañar mis órganos internos. Me mudé a Colombia...

I am quoting good friend Dr. Ben Young (Chief medical officer IAPAC) "HIV medications prevent disease, death and new infections. So how does your country do with access and guidelines to HIV medications? How about for women, children or key populations? Find out at IAPAC's HIV Policy Watch." My statement: I will tell you something. I refused meds for 10 years! In the beginning, because in 1991 I was 18 and they wanted me to take AZT in high dosages and they wanted me to sign a waiver that said it could damage my internal organs. I moved to Colombia that same year and we had nothing there until...

My spirit gets shaken when people write me and tell me they want to get famous for having HIV. This is not about fame or us!

It was a great honor to represent the state of Florida as a woman, a Latina and a Lesbian! It surprised me not to see more Latinas coming from Miami! I was the only one! It was like a Facebook reunion and I learned a lot from those that have been going to this for a long time...like my brother and friend from San Diego, Raul Robles. He has been involved for a very long time and he boosted me to go since my opening plenary in USCA. I was very proud to go and also represent The Well Project who brought three other A Girl Like Me bloggers and CAB members! My experience had mixed emotions! As with...

¡Sí! Triste pero cierto, esta es mi situación actual y esto me detuvo me en seco! Básicamente me estoy haciendo esto yo misma con exceso de trabajo y el estrés. Creo que en mi mente estoy tratando de recuperar tiempo perdido de cuando era una jovencita descarriada! Trato de compensar más del tiempo perdido en mi juventud…y me estoy matando a mí misma lentamente! Tomo mis medicinas diariamente y las infusiones de vitaminas constantemente, además de mis jugos de frutas y vegetales y comiendo sano y haciendo ejercicio…hago lo más que pueda para mantenerme sana y fuerte!! Soy indetectable y he...