Mum 'isn't ashamed' after getting results for 'chest infection'

A mum said she felt like the “world was over” when a six-month-long chest infection turned out to be something else. Beauty Edwards, living in Birkenhead, said in a matter of weeks, her cough got so bad that she struggled to sleep, and it started to affect the rest of her body.

The 67-year-old, originally from South Africa, took herself to the doctor and asked to be “checked out for everything.” Beauty, a retired nurse, said she knew something was wrong with her from her career experience. The mum-of-two’s intuition turned out to be right.

The former carer told the ECHO: “I knew the signs of a virus. I thought something was going on in my body. I knew something was wrong. All the signs were showing that something wasn’t right.”

READ MORE: Teacher knew what she needed to do after driving past children

READ MORE: Assisted dying bill passes as MPs vote in favour of huge law change

Within mere days, Beauty got her results back, and she learnt she was living with HIV. That was in 2015, and now, years on, she said she still has unanswered questions about the virus.

She said: “I was shocked. I got the results within a week, so it was a shocking few days for me. I felt like it was the end of the world for me. I felt like I was just waiting for everything to end, for me to die. I haven’t a clue how I contracted it. Still, to this day, I don’t know. It could’ve been any time over a number of years.

"It’s scary to think I don’t know when I got it. If someone has diabetes, they can easily go around and say they have bad sugars today, they are having a bad day. You can’t do that with HIV with all the stigma. It is not the same.”

Until now, Beauty has only told her close friends and family of her diagnosis. She is undetectable and takes two tablets a day to manage her viral load. In line with World AIDS Day, celebrated annually on December 1, Beauty said she felt the need to share her story to help others.

She said: “People still needed to be educated. I’ve had a lot of negative reactions where people still think HIV is the same as AIDS, and that’s not the case. HIV is very real, and some people think they can’t get the virus, but anyone can get it, not just through sexual contact.

“I live freely and talk openly without feeling ashamed. Something has been taken out of my body - I was walking with a dark shroud, and now I have come out of the darkness. I walked with hunched shoulders, not wanting people to see me. I thought people were talking about me. I was paranoid, but now that has all gone. I’m a new person. It’s a virus like any other, and there should be no shame in it.”

READ MORE: Liverpool mums to get free infant formula for a year

Beauty has been supported by Liverpool’s oldest LGBTQ+ charity, Sahir House. The charity has integrated itself into carrying out vital work across Merseyside for decades now. Since 1985, it has been offering HIV support, prevention, information and training and shows no signs of slowing down.

A spokesperson told the ECHO: “Beauty has been part of the Sahir family for a long time, and it’s a joy being part of her journey. Supporting people like her is about creating a safe space to feel heard, valued, and empowered. At Sahir, we provide the tools and community they need to live full and fulfilling lives, free from stigma.

“Everyone deserves compassion, dignity, and the opportunity to thrive. But we can only continue to do this with everyone’s support, as funding for these vital services is scarce, and we appreciate every pound for Sahir.”