Almost two years later, I can’t imagine a better place for Malina to have been born because Malina was born in Broward House. As addicts, we get addicted to falling and getting back up. Not so much about a relapsing but falling in life. I did just that; I fell. As an...
It’s Med Time Papa! By Zee Zalnasky It all began when Luca was about age 3. At the time, his older brother Pierce, had just begun preschool. Luca suddenly felt all alone with his brother and playmate gone for the day. He had no one to play with. Luca would gather all...
I went in for testing because my boyfriend and I came across a post from my ex on one of the hookups sites. He mentioned that he was HIV positive. Imagine my surprise. I was just angry at my ex. I had recently broken up with him because he had been sleeping around...
I’ll never forget it: the date was November 17, 2006, and I was in jail for drug charges. A lady was doing HIV testing at the prison, and I’d wanted to get tested for a while just to know; but I also had this “feeling” lately, because I’d had symptoms of thrush and...
I was living in a halfway house in Delray Beach, Florida, and I was sick, which I thought was the flu. It was persistent. I had a high fever, and it was lasting probably over a week, not being able to get off the couch and calling out at work. Finally, one of the...
I found out I was HIV positive in December of 2020 at 71 years old. I stayed in the hospital for 20 days after they found out what was wrong. I had four or five different things that were going on with me. I had double pneumonia and meningitis. I had gone to the...
I’m from Norway. I grew up in Broward County, FL. I am a 33-year-old white gay male. My first time sharing a needle, I contracted HIV. I knew the risk was there. I wanted to get high. I was sober for several years before I was introduced to meth. By the time I turned...
I had just moved to Florida from Maryland in 2003. I flew up to Maryland for my son’s birthday and got tested then because my family and my doctor, who’s a family friend, recommended it. I was heavily into addiction, and I was very skinny at the time. The doctor...
I am white, 61-years-old, and I am gay. I was diagnosed with HIV on November 21st, 1984. I've survived HIV and addiction for 38 years and I have every intention of continuing. I was told I have this new gay disease. I was put in isolation in the hospital. I found out...
At the time I was in Atlanta, Georgia, and I had gotten really sick. I didn't know what was wrong, I just knew I didn't feel right. It was unlike anything I've ever felt before. I went and had a rapid HIV test done at the health department. About a week later, I was...