Chelsea was the girl next door. She attended college but didn’t live the typical college life. The development of life-long friendships, involvement in sororities and attending parties were not part of Chelsea’s college experience. Instead, was attended her classes, worked to pay the bills and played wife to a man who was her love, her life and her world and who would bring heartbreak to her life.

Chelsea met the man of her dreams and quickly fell in love. Soon after meeting him, Chelsea moved in with her partner believing she would have the perfect life. The comfort of a stable relationship and an HIV negative test result gave her the mindset that unsafe sex was okay in the relationship. Her relationship broke apart and soon ended. Chelsea found out shortly after that he had been unfaithful. The years of isolation and playing house had left her alone with very few friends. Chelsea found herself struggling to break free from the relationship and often returned to him because he was all she knew.

In light of the news of the cheating, Chelsea and her partner went to get another HIV test. Assuming nothing, she walked out of the clinic with the test in the back of her mind. Weeks went by and on a summer afternoon Chelsea returned home from a walk to the local grocery store to a note on the front door asking her partner to return a phone call. He casually called the number and the voice identified himself as an employee from the HIV clinic. Within a few minutes the gentleman was on the front porch. Chelsea introduced herself and in a calm voice he said, “Have a seat I’ve been looking for you too.” The gentlemen informed Chelsea’s partner that he needed to speak with him alone. Her partner, in a stern voice, responded, “Anything you have to say to me, you can say in front of her.” It was then they both learned that they were HIV positive.

Chelsea felt a deep sense of denial and thought her life was over after learning the news. Chelsea was confused and angry and visited a local clinic for another HIV test. After waiting in a storage room for hours in a state of panic, the door slowly opened. A look of heartbreak was painted across the nurse’s face and it was then she learned that she was not only HIV positive but six weeks pregnant. Devastated and alone Chelsea now had to deal with being an HIV positive woman and expectant mother in today’s harsh world. She was sure no one would ever want her again and the news of both test results was almost too much to bear. After researching HIV and pregnancy, she became an advocate for herself and knew she needed to put her fears aside and focus on the health of her unborn child.

Today Chelsea is an HIV positive mother with a healthy, beautiful HIV negative son. As an advocate in her community and across the nation, she strives to educate young people. Chelsea is going back to school for her master’s degree in social work and has committed her life to sharing her story. She is an inspiration to mothers and women.

2012/13