Times Have Changed: Jessica Glaspie Shares Her Story of Living With HIV

Jessica Glaspie transformed her HIV diagnosis into a life of advocacy. Diagnosed at the age of 22, the mother of three made it her mission to raise awareness about how far HIV treatment has come. She shared her journey with MADAMENOIRE, speaking about her advocacy, how she manages her diagnosis and the importance of continuing treatment.

The Diagnosis

Jessica was 22 years old when she received her diagnosis. She was at the doctor seeking treatment for swollen lymph nodes when a blood test revealed that she was positive for HIV. She still remembers the date: Dec. 21, 2009. “I was shocked. I was uneducated at the time, so I really thought that HIV was AIDS, which is still a huge stigma and misconception today,” she told MN.

Managing HIV

Thanks to continuing advances in medicine, these days, HIV is considered a manageable chronic disease. “Adherence to your medication is your number one priority when you’re living with HIV,” said the author and advocate.

Jessica takes one pill a day to manage her HIV. “It keeps my viral load undetectable, which means it cannot be transmitted sexually,” she explained.

Taking her medication went hand in hand with embracing a healthier lifestyle. “Some of the medications—they call it a ‘cocktail’—have three or four medications in one pill. So it’s a lot on your body if you don’t take care of it,” she explained. “I had to make choices to eat better, drink more water, you know, keep up with all of my doctor’s appointments and physicals because now I’m immunocompromised.”

Jessica visits her doctor for a check-up every six months. “It keeps me in the know of my viral load and my CD4 count, to know that the medication is still working the way that it should,” she said.