Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this piece are the author’s and do not necessarily represent the position of Positive Women’s Network – USA.
June 1, 2018
by Michelle Harris
I found out in February 2012 that I was living with HIV, not knowing I had been living with it for the previous 10 years. After being in a medically-induced coma for almost five weeks and having coded on the table twice, I had no idea what my journey was about to be. I was suffering from severe depression because I had been married for 10 years, and my spouse had given me HIV. I continued to press and I asked God to tell me why He saved me. These thoughts went through my mind for two years.
I then I decided I wanted to be in group meeting, but there was nothing in my area that I could use. There were meetings, but I wanted to be able to help people with AIDS/HIV or help to prevent them from going through what I was going through. One day I got a call and was asked if I still wanted to become an advocate and help. I said yes, and June 2017 changed my whole life. I was asked to come to Indianapolis, and I met with Mark Hughes with BROTHER’S UNITED, INC. In INDY for my first conference, I also Met Dr. Carrie E. Foote who is on the board with BROTHERS UNITED, and she also chairs with HMM HIV MODERNIZATION MOVEMENT of INDY which deals with the criminalization of people living with HIV. Thankfully, that conference changed my life, and I knew why I was spared to pay it forward. Since then I have joined Positive Women’s Network-USA (PWN-USA) and SERO. As of June 1, I have been invited to HIV Is Not a Crime Training Academy III, as well the BLACK UNITED LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE (BULI).
I will be attending the AIDS/HIV LONG TERMS SURVIVORS CELEBRATION on June 8 where I was told I would be an Honoree. I have a host of people to thank for getting me this far: one is my brother, Micheal (Zee Strong) Salansky, for his beautiful frames so I am not ashamed and can hold my head high; Dr. Carrie Foot, who gave me the strength to go public and Mark Hughes who never gave up on me. And a special thanks to all the rest of my sisters and brothers.
June 1, 2018
by Michelle Harris
I found out in February 2012 that I was living with HIV, not knowing I had been living with it for the previous 10 years. After being in a medically-induced coma for almost five weeks and having coded on the table twice, I had no idea what my journey was about to be. I was suffering from severe depression because I had been married for 10 years, and my spouse had given me HIV. I continued to press and I asked God to tell me why He saved me. These thoughts went through my mind for two years.
I then I decided I wanted to be in group meeting, but there was nothing in my area that I could use. There were meetings, but I wanted to be able to help people with AIDS/HIV or help to prevent them from going through what I was going through. One day I got a call and was asked if I still wanted to become an advocate and help. I said yes, and June 2017 changed my whole life. I was asked to come to Indianapolis, and I met with Mark Hughes with BROTHER’S UNITED, INC. In INDY for my first conference, I also Met Dr. Carrie E. Foote who is on the board with BROTHERS UNITED, and she also chairs with HMM HIV MODERNIZATION MOVEMENT of INDY which deals with the criminalization of people living with HIV. Thankfully, that conference changed my life, and I knew why I was spared to pay it forward. Since then I have joined Positive Women’s Network-USA (PWN-USA) and SERO. As of June 1, I have been invited to HIV Is Not a Crime Training Academy III, as well the BLACK UNITED LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE (BULI).
I will be attending the AIDS/HIV LONG TERMS SURVIVORS CELEBRATION on June 8 where I was told I would be an Honoree. I have a host of people to thank for getting me this far: one is my brother, Micheal (Zee Strong) Salansky, for his beautiful frames so I am not ashamed and can hold my head high; Dr. Carrie Foot, who gave me the strength to go public and Mark Hughes who never gave up on me. And a special thanks to all the rest of my sisters and brothers.