A Bay area senior living with HIV is inspiring others with her story of resilience.
- Ann Nash, 73, diagnosed with HIV nearly 3 decades ago
- Nash hid condition from friends, family for years
- Nash now retiring after a decade as a caregiver for HIV sufferers
Ann Nash, 73, was diagnosed with HIV nearly three decades ago. She contracted the disease from her husband.
“My husband got real sick,” Nash said. “He ended up in the hospital. He couldn’t tell me what was going on. The doctor had to come out and tell me that he was dying of AIDS and that I had to go get tested right then.”
Nash spent years keeping everything secret from her family and friends. Part of keeping her own condition secret was telling them her husband died of cancer.
“I lived a lie,” Nash said. ”That’s the hardest thing in the world to do.”
Then finally, Nash reached a turning point. She began to share her story.
“I am who I am,” Nash said. “I didn’t do anything wrong. And if you can’t accept me for who I am, I don’t need you as my friend. And that’s the attitude I’ve had ever since.”
For the last decade, Nash worked at EPIC at Francis House in Tampa. She serves food to those with HIV and she shares her personal story to those who are interested.
She said it’s an eye opener for many who can’t believe she’s like them.
“They look at me in a whole different light,” Nash said. “They say if she can do it maybe I can do it too. And that’s the whole thing for me to get them to understand they can have a life even though they are sick.”
“It’s amazing,” said Stephanie Carr, who works at EPIC at Francis House. “She’s so strong to do that and to come out on the other end and find a life for herself. It’s very inspiring.”
But now, Nash decided it’s time to retire.
“It’s a simple matter of age,” Nash said.
Those at the EPIC at Francis House said she will definitely be missed. Nash said she will retire by the end of April.