How my parents discovered I was HIV positive at 8-years-old

Living with HIV comes with many challenges including stigma, something that make many victims hide in the closet. However, that is not the case for 26-year-old Doreen Moraa. Doreen, who celebrated her 26th birthday yesterday has been living positively with the virus. She has been vibrant and open when talking about her status in a bid to create awareness and end stigma related to HIV.

In previous interviews, Doreen confessed to knowing about her status when she was thirteen years despite her parents knowing about it when she was eight.

In her birthday social media post, the bubbly Doreen revealed how she got the virus.

Today I turn 26…..I don’t celebrate birthdays I celebrate life. life of living positively with HIV since 1992 to 2018. 26 years ago I was born to a HIV discordant couple, my mum is positive my dad is negative I’m their third born and my 3 other siblings are very much negative. My parents found out I was positive when I was 8,my doctors said if I reach 13 then I’ll be able to grow up a normal child but God wasn’t done with me yet he has added me 13 more years and this is just the beginning coz I know God’s not done with me yet .I’m open about my HIV status not because of the pity but because one day i want someone to look at me and say “because of you, i did not give up” . Living positively isn’t easy but I remind myself everyday that “I am greater than HIV” and that keeps me going I don’t know who I might be talking to this morning but everyday remind yourself you are greater that any circumstance that you are going through right now.  #iamabeautifulstory #iamgreaterthanHIV

Born to a HIV discordant couple (Positive mother, negative dad) and she is the only child amongst her siblings that was born with the virus.

In an interview with Edaily in January 2017, Doreen admitted to having been involved with a negative boyfriend with whom they used protection during intercourse.

She has also opened up about experiences where suitors would ghost on her after discovering her status.

HIV IS NOT A DEATH SENTENCE I WILL SAY THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN IF IT WAS I’D BE DEAD… I’VE SEEN THE REACTION IN HERE ABOUT HIV AND RELATIONSHIPS AND TRUST ME I FEEL SAD MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW THEIR HIV STATUS, DON’T KNOW THEIR PARTNERS STATUS AND DON’T WANT TO USE PROTECTION, I REMEMBER THE FIRST GUY I TOLD THAT I WAS POSITIVE I DID IT VIA SMS AND HE DIDN’T BELIEVE ME, SO HE ASKED THAT WE GET TESTED AND THAT WE DID OF COURSE MY TEST WAS + HIS NEGATIVE, AND THAT WAS THE LAST TIME I EVER SAW THAT GUY BUT I DIDN’T BLAME THE GUY I KNEW HE WAS JUST COMING FROM EVERYONE’S SCHOOL OF THOUGHT THAT IF YOU DATE A POSITIVE PERSON YOU AUTOMATICALLY GET INFECTED ….AND OVER THE YEARS I HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH THAT BUT FACT IS YOU CAN DATE A POSITIVE PERSON AND DON’T GET INFECTED IF THEIR VIRAL LOAD IS SUPPRESSED,THEN YOU CANT GET INFECTED YOU CAN EVEN HAVE NEGATIVE BABIES.

Doreen first went public about her status in 2015 through a Facebook post and she has since become a darling to many for her boldness.

Happy belated birthday Doreen!!! Keep inspiring.