Sarah’s story is one among many in "Common Threads: Women’s Stories of Pregnancy, Parenting and Living with HIV", a book about pregnancy and parenting among 34 courageous women diagnosed with HIV/AIDS during their child-bearing years.
The book is the result of four years’ collaboration between La Trobe University PhD research scholar Karalyn McDonald, from La Trobe’s Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, and Positive Women Victoria (Inc), a support and advocacy group for women living with HIV/AIDS.
It tells the harrowing personal stories of women facing childbirth and child-rearing in the shadow of HIV. Many of the women were not yet mothers at the time of their diagnosis, and some had very young families. Some discovered they were pregnant and HIV positive at the same time. Others speak of their heartbreak after diagnosis when they believed they could not have children.
Author Karalyn McDonald was the recipient of a National Health and Medical Research Council scholarship for her PhD research on HIV positive women, pregnancy and motherhood. She also works on the Living with HIV research program at the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society.
Ms McDonald said she set out to create a resource that was driven by the voices of the women. The book highlighted the complexities women face living with HIV.
"Common Threads: Women’s Stories of Pregnancy, Parenting and Living with HIV" will be launched at 6pm on Friday 23 February, at the Positive Living Centre, 51 Commercial Road, South Yarra, by Melbourne journalist and communications specialist Jo Pearson.