I am Roxie Prince, and this is where I blog about living with HIV, bipolar disorder, and trying to make a name for myself with my writing.  I have decided to share my story with the world so that I might educate, and put a human face to the HIV virus.  I feel like if I can demystify the illness for even one person, it’s all been worth it.

I was born HIV+ and my younger brother (four years my junior, who is HIV-) and I were orphaned by AIDS by 1995. We lost my mother in 1992 and my father three years later in 1995. While my parents were living I grew up in Colorado and after their death we moved to Texas with my maternal aunt who raised us, and I’ve been here ever since.

I have endured a lot of loss in my 20-odd years (my parents, my half-brother Zack to an “accidental overdose” in 2002, my grandmother, a cousin, my grandfather, and most recently one of my oldest and closest friends), but from it all I have learned a great deal. I wouldn’t change the way my life has turned out, but I would love to spend more time with those I’ve lost and especially learn more about where I came from.

Growing up and living with HIV was a hard mountain to climb.  It’s a constant battle to find the right medication, to stay healthy, and to combat the stigma.  HIV is a part of who I am, but it’s not all of who I am.  

I suffer from bipolar affective disorder (mixed). I was diagnosed in 2003 after a suicide attempt and once I was diagnosed I felt so much better. From about the time I was twelve years old I knew something wasn’t right in my head, so it was really nice to finally know that my suspicions were correct. Being bipolar is not fun, in the least, but it’s just another card I was dealt that I am still trying to live with. I also suffer from extreme social anxiety and panic attacks. Just like HIV, bipolar disorder is a part of who I am, but not all of who I am.

I have always had a passion for reading and writing, for as long as I can remember. I don’t remember learning to read, and I certainly don’t remember a day when I couldn’t. By the time I was in the third grade I was already reading at a college level. My father introduced me to books at a very young age and I have been reading up a storm ever since. I currently read at least 75 books a year (on average, I read 209 in 2010 and 100 in 2011).  I mostly read classics, horror and supernatural, victorian literature, early American literature, and Southern fiction. It is really hard for me to narrow down a favorite writer, so I usually narrow it down to five – H.P. Lovecraft, Thomas Hardy, Terry Goodkind, Flannery O’Connor, and Algernon Blackwood.

I consider myself a writer despite the fact I have yet to be published, a fact I must contribute to my own lack of trying.  Currently I am working on a novel, my memoirs, and some short stories.  I hope to submit my novel for publication by the end of 2012.

I call myself a hedgehog enthusiast and I’ve owned hedgehogs since 2003.   I run a care site for African pygmy hedgehogs called sayhedgehog.com - A Place for Hedgehog Enthusiasts as well as a fun Tumblr full of adorable animal photos.   

You can also find me on:
Twitter: @roxieprince
YouTube: roxieprince 

Remember, love is.