Donna is a 50-something client who has been HIV positive since 1999. When she was diagnosed, Donna had been happily married in a monogamous relationship for many years. Both she and her husband had successful careers. When her husband became acutely ill, because he did not fit the stereotype, he was not diagnosed with AIDS until it was too late for him to receive beneficial medical treatment. He died shortly after he was diagnosed. Donna was diagnosed with HIV around the same period. She not only had to cope with the death of her spouse, she had to cope with the fact that she was HIV positive.    

Donna considers Mark Garrett, Spokane AIDS Network's (SAN) client advocate, an important mentor in her current life. Through her own experience, Donna understands the isolation and stigmatism surrounding the HIV positive community. She understands federal and state funding for supporting people living with HIV is limited, so Donna has been active through SAN's advocacy program, trying to put a face to the disease. With the help of this advocacy group, Donna has learned to work with legislators to influence state funding decisions.    

Donna has returned to school, planning to become a social worker serving women who are HIV positive or may become positive. Her objectives are to stamp out the stigma surrounding HIV and AIDS, to educate and empower women to own their bodies so they do not become HIV positive, and to teach HIV positive women how to take care of themselves, so they can have happy, healthy and productive lives.    

Donna's case is not unusual. Approximately 20% of SAN's clients are heterosexual women.    Donna has chosen not to let HIV and AIDS control her life in a negative way but to control the disease so she can become the woman she has always dreamed she would be.