Aloha, everyone! I’m Greg Mahusay, and I’m a Long-Term Survivor of HIV/AIDS. I was diagnosed in 1989 when it was considered a “death sentence.” And 3 years later, in 1992, I was diagnosed with AIDS. A couple years after my AIDS diagnosis, I began volunteering as a speaker with the Monterey County AIDS Project. I utilized my diagnosis as a tool to educate the public. From high school and college speaking engagements to non-profit organizations, there was a lot of stigmas regarding the disease but most importantly, there was a lot of support from my family, my friends, and the community.
35 years later, and undetectable since 1998, I am proud to be a thriving Long-Term Survivor. Despite the stigmas that still exist that’s associated with the disease, I still rely on the support of my family, my friends, and the support of the HIV/AIDS community, which I look forward to reconnecting with. Over the years, I’ve become reliant on something very instrumental while thriving with HIV and AIDS. A quality I’ve always felt I was not worthy of. It’s one of the qualities that can be robbed from those navigating through the challenges and obstacles of being diagnosed with HIV and AIDS. And that quality is “Self-love.”