I Felisa Shelby, 40, was diagnosed with HIV almost 14 years ago, two weeks after learning that I was pregnant with my 2nd child. I’ve had relatives to publicly humiliate me, using my illness as a weapon for their own personal satisfaction for anger if they were upset with me. "I was so angry. It was awful."
If I hadn't found out I was pregnant, I probably wouldn't be here today.
After my diagnosis in 1998, I tried to live as if nothing were different. My daughter was born HIV-negative (and continues to be healthy), thanks be to God. However after a while I began to lose my will to live. I had completely given up.
In the Storm Too Long: Refusing to Lose This Battle is my autobiographical account of how I emerged from depression and thoughts of suicide and learned to live with HIV.
I learned to make something positive out of something negative in readjusting my life.
I now speak publicly about this disease to encourage and inspire others. I’ve started my own foundation named “Felisa’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Foundation” geared towards raising awareness for this disease. My goal is to slow or better yet stop the spread of this disease. Please purchase my book "In the Storm Too Long". Very inspiring story.