Imagine receiving news that completely changes your life, only to discover it was a mistake. Shontia Matlock, an educator from Georgia, lived a nightmare at 19 when, in the middle of her pregnancy, doctors wrongly diagnosed her with HIV.
“My heart sank, I just thought that couldn’t be right”, Shontia recalls about that devastating moment.
Her symptoms were alarming: extreme swelling, blisters on her feet and hands, hair loss, and kidney failure. After several days of anguish, new tests ruled out the virus. The mystery was solved thanks to the fact that her mother has lupus and urged her to share her genetic history. “That helped the doctors connect the dots”, Shontia says.
Today, at 39, Shontia is stable thanks to modern treatments and uses her art as therapy. Her message for everyone is clear: “Listen to your body and advocate for yourself”. If something doesn’t feel right, don’t stay in doubt and speak up.