Thread by @TheAshleyRose__

It's #WorldAIDSDay and I thought I would share my story in a thread. I was born with #HIV HIV in 1998, full blown AIDS by six weeks of age due to poor care. (my mom was an alcoholic & addicted to crack & was barely able to get by herself). At six weeks of age I was in a coma.

@UNAIDS @EGPAF @ejaf @RED @CANFAR @amfAR @ETAForg I was on life support @sickkids until I was six months old. My doctor, Dr Stan Read and staff fought to save me. At six months of age they wanted to move me to a foster home for palliative care. They called more than 200 families and no one would take a baby dying of #AIDS.

@UNAIDS @EGPAF @ejaf @RED @CANFAR @amfAR @ETAForg @sickkids Finally, they found a home. A couple who already had six kids, five of them with special needs came to Sick Kids to pick me up. They were told I had a month to live and they decided they were going to give me all the love they could for whatever time I had left.

@UNAIDS @EGPAF @ejaf @RED @CANFAR @amfAR @ETAForg @sickkids Over the next ten years I was sick on and off, had a few surgeries, had a feeding tube inserted, was tested and found to have learning disabilities, mild cerebral palsy, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.

@UNAIDS @EGPAF @ejaf @RED @CANFAR @amfAR @ETAForg @sickkids When I was seven my parents (they adopted me) told me I had #HIV & told me not to tell anyone. I told EVERYONE & as they feared people were not supportive. Parents wanted me out of the school, I wasn't invited to parties, not allowed to play with kids but my family had my back.

@UNAIDS @EGPAF @ejaf @RED @CANFAR @amfAR @ETAForg @sickkids As I grew, I started to see how unfairly people with HIV were treated & started to speak up. I started speaking when I was ten. I felt empowered, like I had some control over this disease. I spoke at medical conferences with no media present.

@UNAIDS @EGPAF @ejaf @RED @CANFAR @amfAR @ETAForg @sickkids When I was twelve I was asked to film a documentary for @GlobalTV 16:9 program which aired internationally. You can watch it here.

@UNAIDS @EGPAF @ejaf @RED @CANFAR @amfAR @ETAForg @sickkids @GlobalTV Three days after that video was filmed my birth mom, who I had maintained a relationship with (supervised visits) died in a fire on Christmas Eve. That was where my journey with mental illness began. I have had anxiety since then.

@UNAIDS @EGPAF @ejaf @RED @CANFAR @amfAR @ETAForg @sickkids @GlobalTV I still struggle with anxiety but I found a way to stand up to the haters. Living openly and without shame. I started speaking about growing up with #HIV at WE Days in stadiums across North America when I was sixteen. which were livestreamed to millions.

@UNAIDS @EGPAF @ejaf @RED @CANFAR @amfAR @ETAForg @sickkids @GlobalTV @WEMovement @CharlizeAfrica From there I spoke at @UNAIDS in Geneva and participated in the UN General Assembly in New York.

@UNAIDS @EGPAF @ejaf @RED @CANFAR @amfAR @ETAForg @sickkids @GlobalTV @WEMovement @CharlizeAfrica @humanloveshuman @NdabaMandela @MichelSidibe In spite of my learning disabilities I graduated from high school with honours and I'm now in my fourth year of university at @yorkuniversity Carried the torch in the Pan Am Games, continued to speak around the world.

@UNAIDS @EGPAF @ejaf @RED @CANFAR @amfAR @ETAForg @sickkids @GlobalTV @WEMovement @CharlizeAfrica @humanloveshuman @NdabaMandela @MichelSidibe @yorkuniversity I'm so much more than just HIV positive. I'm a singer, actor, aunt, sister, friend, girlfriend, skateboarder & many other things. Faith and hard work and lots of love is what got me here. My viral load is undetectable, I can get married, have children & live a pretty long life.

@UNAIDS @EGPAF @ejaf @RED @CANFAR @amfAR @ETAForg @sickkids @GlobalTV @WEMovement @CharlizeAfrica @humanloveshuman @NdabaMandela @MichelSidibe @yorkuniversity Last year I overcame another hurdle. I've always struggled with my scars - across my neck, on my chest & on my abdomen from various life saving surgeries. I'd never wear a two piece bathing suit etc then last year I was asked to #LoveMySkin

@UNAIDS @EGPAF @ejaf @RED @CANFAR @amfAR @ETAForg @sickkids @GlobalTV @WEMovement @CharlizeAfrica @humanloveshuman @NdabaMandela @MichelSidibe @yorkuniversity The campaign was called #UnderMySkin The Art Of Loving Your Selfie by the artists @SteviSesin and @LaureenDB The scars on my neck & chest have faded since I was a baby & a double belly button from my feeding tube. #NoShame #HIV #WorldAIDSDay

@UNAIDS @EGPAF @ejaf @RED @CANFAR @amfAR @ETAForg @sickkids @GlobalTV @WEMovement @CharlizeAfrica @humanloveshuman @NdabaMandela @MichelSidibe @yorkuniversity @LaureenDb We've come a long way in this fight against HIV/AIDS but it's not over. I'm still losing people I care about to AIDS, babies are still being born with HIV, the meds don't work for everyone & are not affordable for others.

@UNAIDS @EGPAF @ejaf @RED @CANFAR @amfAR @ETAForg @sickkids @GlobalTV @WEMovement @CharlizeAfrica @humanloveshuman @NdabaMandela @MichelSidibe @yorkuniversity @LaureenDb There are many HIV+ people who have mental illnesses, homelessness or don't know their status. They can pass it along to others & perpetuate the cycle. We have to reach everyone through education & awareness. Reducing the stigma will encourage others to get tested.