Trevion and Norena Gutierrez share their story on how and when they share HIV/AIDS status to family and friends.

I remember my first Pride. Oh my God, I think it was like the best day of my life. It was just a day where I can be myself, a day where I could relax, a day where I could just feel free.

QNotes continues with this fifth installment of this special series by mother and son, Norena Gutierrez and Trevion Gutierrez.

Two weeks went by, and I was thrilled to be feeling better. I could get up without the nurse’s help. The nausea and vomiting was finally over. I started to wander the ninth floor of Levine Children’s Hospital and rebuild my muscle. I was becoming — day by day — happier. I think, but I wasn’t sure.

Trevion: My mom and I used to volunteer as ushers for the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center before all this HIV-positive stuff started.

Within the hour of being diagnosed, I was on YouTube. Checking out testimonies and speeches, researching misconceptions about the virus.