31 years ago, Rachel Karrington’s family was plagued by the AIDS virus -— proving that anyone, including the average american family could still be vulnerable to an increasingly complicated epidemic.

Like so many others, when Karrington learned of her husbands diagnosis she felt scared, confused, and alienated. She was left to defend herself and her children against the fear of a virus that was claiming the lives of hundreds of people each day.

After her husband’s diagnosis, Karrington could have become a statistic and her story could have ended there. However, after years of silence, she felt compelled to speak out — and become an advocate for change. Karrington is a living example of perseverance, and resilience at a time in her life when she was faced with life’s most brutal realities. Here’s her story…