the strong testimony of Andréa Mestre, HIV positive since she was 22, against prejudices about the virus

Andréa Mestre was 22 when her life changed. The young woman does a screening test that she imagines without consequence, but the diagnosis is violent: she has the AIDS virus. “When I learn the diagnosis it is a shock. It’s terrible to tell myself that at 22 I’m an HIV-positive woman, because I had this image of HIV-positive people who are rejected, who don’t live long, who are going to get sick. For me, my life ended there”, she remembers. Then begins a deep depression, until making a suicide attempt.

Mother of three HIV-negative girls

The virus is quickly brought under control thanks to a treatment of one tablet per day which makes it undetectable in his body, to the point of no longer being contagious. A year after her diagnosis, Andréa meets Nicolas. The chemistry is immediate. She worries to see him flee, but quickly announces the situation to him. “I told him ‘So what?’ and I took her in my arms”, he says. A relief that made “reborn” Andrea. The couple quickly married and had children. Andréa is now the mother of three healthy HIV-negative little girls.