Born with AIDS and hope.

• Author: Broadbent, Hydeia
• Position: Voices

LAS VEGAS-- I am 17 years old, and I have AIDS.

I was born with it. My biological mother was an intravenous drug user who was infected and passed it on to me at birth. Patricia and Loren Broadbent adopted me when I was 6 weeks old. They did not know I had the disease, which breaks down your immune system. They found out when I was 3 years old. My birth mother had had another child who was infected. The state called my adoptive parents and told them they needed to get me tested. With the diagnosis, I wasn't expected to live to be 5.

I spent most of my time in the hospital taking a lot of different experimental medications, and my mom and dad found the best doctors they could. In the hospital, I met kids of all races. The one thing we had in common was that we had the disease, though some of the kids were not told that. All they knew was that they were sick. And some died.

A decade ago, having AIDS made you an outcast since it's most often transmitted through drug use or unprotected sex. People used to think you were a bad person or should not be treated with the same respect or rights as everyone else. Because of this, most of my friends kept their illness a secret, not even telling family members and best friends.

Growing up, I always knew I had AIDS. My parents never kept it a secret from anyone. They told me to be proud of who I am. I started speaking in public...