Hi, my name is Sharonda Lynn. I've been HIV positive for 22 years and counting. I was first diagnosed at the age of 19 years old. I found out I was HIV positive a month before graduating high school with a one year old daughter. I would never have thought I would have seen the age of 21, 31 and now 41.
I found out I was HIV positive four days after burying my cousin due to complications of AIDS. I was devastated and so was my family. However, I managed to take HIV under my belt and live my life. As a 19 year old girl I was terrified. I thought I would never be able to have any more children nor be married. I am now 41 with three beautiful children that are HIV-negative and I have been married not once, but twice. I live a very blessed, content and prosperous life. I was determined that HIV wouldn't be the death of me. I just made up in my mind that I won’t be stressed behind the stigma of HIV, nor will I let HIV control my life. My motto is: My diagnosis does not control me nor my destiny, I control my diagnosis.
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