I had the pleasure of meeting the remarkable Lyn after her night duty shift at a hospital in Manchester. Lyn, a beautiful soul, holds an NHS managerial position as a GP liaison person and has courageously lived with HIV for the past two decades. She shared her journey, recounting the era when the impactful tombstone adverts for AIDS were fading away, coinciding with the increasing availability of antiretroviral medication.
In search of support, Lyn joined a local group at the George House Trust, focused on assisting positive women. She vividly remembers the influx of young Irish women coming to Manchester from Ireland, seeking understanding and support due to the challenges of openly discussing their diagnosis back home.
In her mid-twenties, Lyn pursued her dream of becoming a midwife and was accepted into university. However, her HIV diagnosis during this time came with a list of prohibitions:
No tattoos.
No injecting drugs with others.
No pursuing a career as a physician, nurse, or midwife.
Restricted travel to certain countries like the States or Australia.
Undeterred, Lyn disclosed her HIV status to her medical team when accepted into the midwifery course. The response was disheartening complete the course, accumulate a substantial £30,000 debt in educational expenses, and face potential denial of licensure to practice.

Undaunted, Lyn and her support group members took their cause to the British Parliament, successfully advocating for the revocation of these prohibitions. Lyn, embodying an upbeat fighting spirit, emphasized the importance of persevering through hardships and emerging stronger.
During a panel interview, when asked about challenging times, Lyn initially hesitated. However, she bravely decided to share her journey living with HIV, discussing how she has played a role in changing the landscape for people to work in healthcare settings after completing their training. One person congratulated and thanked her for sharing this significant part of her life. It’s worth noting that Lyn is a healthy woman, maintaining an undetectable level.