Confessions
There are an estimated 50,000 Latinas living with HIV in the United States today. In 2020, there were 5,450 new HIV infections in women. Confessions is a podcast that follows the lives of 6 women who share their journeys.
The women in this podcast courageously share their stories and the pain they've endured, raising awareness and breaking down barriers. Their voices are powerful and necessary in promoting empathy. Let's listen and learn from their experiences.
This podcast is brought to you by the Los Angeles Family AIDS Network in collaboration with Women Together and produced by mejia.tv
For more information about the Los Angeles Family AIDS Network visit lafan.org
facebook.com/LAFAN1
Instagram; @lafamilyaidsnetwork
HIV data obtained at cdc.gov/hiv
To find HIV testing, treatment, and other resources visit https://locator.hiv.gov/
Produced by:
Natalie Sanchez
Elia Silveyra
Francisco Valdes
Se estima que hoy en día hay 50,000 Latinas que viven con VIH en los Estados Unidos. En el ano 2020, hubo 5,450 nuevas infecciones de VIH en mujeres. Confesiones es un podcast que sigue la vida de 6 mujeres que comparten sus historias.
Las mujeres en este podcast comparten con valentía sus historias y el dolor que han aguantado, creando conciencia y derribando barreras. Sus voces son poderosas y necesarias para promover la empatía. Escuchemos y aprendamos de sus experiences.
Este podcast es presentado por Los Angeles Family AIDS Network en colaboración con Women Together y producido por mejia.tv
Para obtener más información sobre Los Angeles Family AIDS Network visite lafan.org
facebook.com/LAFAN1
Instagram: @lafamilyaidsnetwork
Datos sobre el VIH obtenidos en cdc.gov/hiv
Para encontrar pruebas, tratamientos y otros recursos del VIH, visite https://locator.hiv.gov/
Producido por:
Natalie Sanchez
Jazmin Rojano
Elia Silveyra
Confessions
Healing Through Love: How I Became the Mother I Never Knew
In this deeply moving episode of Confessions: HIV+ Women, Lori shares her powerful journey of overcoming trauma, addiction, and HIV, ultimately finding healing and becoming the mother she always dreamed of. Born in Wichita, Kansas, Lori is a 43-year-old professional with a master's degree in counseling psychology and 18 years of experience as a therapist. But behind her academic success, Lori’s life story is one of survival and resilience.
Growing up in a tumultuous home with an alcoholic, verbally abusive father, Lori’s parents divorced when she was just six. Her family moved to California, where Lori suffered years of sexual abuse by her stepfather, a secret she kept for many years. Despite these early hardships, Lori later built a career and became a mother. But six months after giving birth to her twins, Lori received an unexpected diagnosis—HIV. This news came after she had visited the doctor following a warning about Hepatitis C, but the diagnosis revealed something more life-changing.
She was diagnosed with HIV six months after giving birth to the twins. As a mother, Lori was overwhelmed with concern about possibly passing HIV to her newborns, especially since she hadn’t been tested during pregnancy since she was not considered to be “high-risk”. Shortly after she gave birth to her twins, Lori struggled with post-partum depression and relapsed. Lori and her partner at the time began using meth again. This led to her therapist filing a mandated report and removing her children from her. Her twins tested positive for HIV while in foster care.
Lori worked hard to achieve sobriety and get her children back. Today, Lori is a mother to a 10-year-old son and two 4-year-old twins, a boy and a girl and her children are thriving. Her oldest son is in 5th grade and loves basketball, while her twins are excelling in kindergarten. Lori is a single mother determined to be the mother she never had, navigating life with love, dedication, and a commitment to spending quality time with her children.
Lori’s story is not just one of struggle but of strength. From childhood trauma to substance abuse, recovery, and the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lori has faced it all. With the support of her brother, who played a key role in her recovery, Lori found the strength to rebuild her life.
Today, Lori is open about her HIV status with family and friends, helping to break the stigma and promote the importance of medication adherence and U=U (undetectable = untransmissible). As a therapist, she uses her own experiences to empower others, emphasizing the importance of self-care, healthy choices, and resilience.
Lori’s story serves as a powerful reminder that success in education or career doesn’t shield us from life’s toughest challenges. But with a willingness to change, dedication, and the support of others, we can overcome even the greatest obstacles. Join us for an inspiring conversation about healing, love, and the strength to transform our lives.
Funding provided by the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) Ending the HIV Epidemic Grant and the County of Los Angeles, Department of Public Health, Division of HIV and STD Programs
This podcast is brought to you by the Los Angeles Family AIDS Network