Sharonda Lynn

As a motivational speaker that has not only had to fight to live through HIV AND ALL THE STIGMA behind those letters of diagnosis. I have also fought my way through depression. My heart desire as a motivational speaker is not only shed light and remove the stigma of HIV. However, to also bring light to this dark disease called DEPRESSION that alot of African Americans and so many other cultures are dealing with and not facing. This dark disease cause suicide and trick so many people out of their lives.

Depression has taken so many lives and almost took mines including my daughter. So many people look over small signs of depression and as an African American woman growing up we were always taught that what goes on in our home stays in our home, Which means so many of us seen and experience things on top of life that can destroy us mentally. I offer my story, my life and power points on how depression is a silent killer and in hope to not only save life's but also remove THE STIGMA OF HIV AND EDUCATE THE UNEDUCATED ON BOTH!!

SHARONDA LYNN BIOGRAPHY

I have accomplished so many things in my life. I moved from Dallas, Tx. To Jacksonville, Fl. While living in Dallas, Tx. I had three beautiful children. I was awarded the opportunity to sing in a choir at The Black Academy of Arts and Letters behind Fantasia Barrino, Rubin Studdard, and the wonderful Karen Clark Sheard. I also audition in front of Fred Hammond to sing in the Warehouse Worship choir and be on his Love Unstoppable CD and was one of the ones who were picked by the very own Fred Hammond himself. I went on to follow my passion and went to school for medical coding.

I then moved to Jacksonville, Fl. And with hard work and studying I took the exam to become certified in medical coding and past. Not only did I get certified in medical coding, I also studied and past my Real Estate exam and became a license Real Estate Agent. I accomplished being a homeowner and vacation in my dream spot where I dreamed of going since the age of 5 years old which is Paris, France A©msterdam and the UK. Along my journey I have gain new relationships and I have grown more wisdom Spiritually, emotionally, physically and mentally. I also try my best to live a very prosperous and healthy life. I have just about accomplished all that I have set my mind to do.

However, it has not always been this way for me. At the age of 19 with a one-year old little girl out of wedlock just like a regular teenager doing my own thing and thinking I am grown, Not listening to anyone and thinking to myself can’t nobody tell me nothing. Thinking nothing can happen to me and that I was untouchable. A young man that was apart of my past has now became apart of my present. I went home to tell my mother who I had saw and now involved with. I can remember to this day the words she spoke that was so vivid. What she said was Sharonda baby don’t look back you will be as Lots wife in the bible who looked back at Salmon and Gomorrah and she turn into a pillow of salt. I was like here she goes with those bible stories. I then told her mom whatever im grown not paying any attention and went own to dating this young man. We became intimate and protected ourselves, that is what I thought. Welp the relationship did not last long at all.
Three months before graduating I noticed a sore throat and on my tonsils looked like an abscess and it hurt so bad. I noticed myself having night sweats, diarrhea and I just could not get any energy. Nevertheless, I still pushed myself to go to high school. I was almost done two mouth to go until graduation. One day while at school the blood drive bus came, and I was so excited to give blood to help someone else not knowing at that time I needed help myself. So, I went down to give blood.
Two weeks after someone called me from the blood drive and told me that it was important that I go see my family doctor and get checked for all sexual transmitted diseases. I was like lady I have not been with anyone for I know three months or more and the one I was with before used protection so you must mean to call someone else. The lady on the other line was adamant that I go, and I told her unless you tell me what’s wrong I’m not going. She said I’m not supposed to give you any information over the phone, but I will because I really need for you to go see your family doctor. She said so here it goes we tested your blood and it tested positive for HIV. I was like what man you tripping. I could remember getting off the phone and calling my family doctor to make an appointment. The doctors office seen me right away. I went in and of course they took a blood test and told me it will be seven days before the results come back. I cant even began to tell you the thoughts that went through my mind. To be honest with you I cant even remember those seven days going by.
All I can remember is the seventh day that I had to go back and get my results I told my mom I had to go to the doctor if she would watch my baby for me. I got in my car and drove to the doctors office what seem to be a long drive. What normally took me 15 mins to get to the doctors office seem as if on that day it took hours to arrive. I finally arrived and checked in, my doctor herself came out and got me. I knew then that this must be bad news that she needs to tell me. We finally arrived to one of the exam rooms and she looks at me with this hurtful look and said Sharonda your test came back positive for HIV. I was speechless I cant remember anything she said after that. All I can remember is getting in my car and just crying uncontrollably not even putting my key in the ignition to drive home. I finally got up enough strength to call my mom and tell her the horrible news.
A month before graduation and four days after burying my cousin I found out I was HIV POSITIVE!! What was I going to do? Will I live to see my daughter grow up and have kids of her own? Will I be able to get married and have any more children? OMYGOSH Will I even live to see the big 21? This is the same disease that eventually killed my cousin in his early 30’s. Am I next to die? How will my daughter live in this big cruel world without her mom? Will my family embrace her and love her unconditionally like I will? Will they protect her from the dangers that life will bring? Will they make sure she gets a great education and thrive for greatness in life? How would people treat me now? Will they think negative thoughts about me due to me contracting this horrible and deadly disease that will eventually turn into AIDS and Kill me? All these questions racing through my head with absolutely no answer to them.

Not only did this put me in a dark place but now I was stuck in this dark place with no way out. My heart was beating however, I was lifeless. I was literally at a place of no return. I felt the only way out was committing suicide. I tried several times but this one time I felt that I cant allow my daughter in this world without me so I will take her with me (FOOLISH THOUGHTS). So I put her in the car with me and while driving I seen a Semi-Truck. I swerved in front of the truck so the truck could hit us and killing us instantly. But God had another plan the semi-truck stopped instantly inches from hitting my car. Nothing but the hand of God that was on our life. I can remember my mom coming into my room once I got home and she said you can either fight the devil head on or you can allow the devil to kill you. Instantly I felt a strength that I never had that came from the most high God.

I began fighting the devil head on and now 21 plus years later I am here to tell my story and walking in my victory. I am here to encourage others to let them know you can win. I am also here to educate the uneducated regarding HIV/AIDS and kill the stereotype and all myths. Yes, I can only imagine what uneducated people are saying. Man, im not drinking nor eating behind her? This has always been a myth. Man, she’s beautiful but she got that ninja that oowee and she can pass it to anybody. She only has a short time to live. All these things and more, probably been said due to ones on truth and being uneducated.

So, allow me to educate you and give you not your truth but the truth about HIV. My favorite scripture in the bible is Hosea 4:6 my people perish for lack of knowledge.

Yes, You can eat and drink behind me. I am not contagious. I am on medication that is called antiretroviral treatments that keeps me undetectable and has award me the opportunity on not passing it to anyone. I have been in relationships where my partners where negative and is still negative to this day. I have three beautiful children of which I had two of them after my diagnosis and come with no surprise they are negative as well. While on medication me passing it to someone is not true and not likely to happen and this information comes from the Center for Disease Control known as CDC. The same company that is now helping our world and working closely to the president to get control of COVID 19. Although, God has given us the ability to make our own decision. However, what he has not given us, is the ability to choose the consequences. I will always have this thorn in my side but even in this I have the Victory.

My prayer and hope are to help as many people as I can and kill the stereotype and the myth regarding HIV/AIDS. THE LETTERS HIV FOR ME, STANDS FOR HAVING INCREDIBLE VICTORY