A mum-of-two whose boyfriend risked his life to start a family is speaking out about HIV to break down the stigma.

Sasha Goodman, 30, from Milton Keynes, was diagnosed with the disease when she was five after she was unable to overcome a bout of chicken pox.

After doctors carried out a blood test they found out Sasha had contracted HIV from her mother in womb.

Sasha Goodman, 30, from Milton Keynes, was diagnosed with HIV when she was five after she was unable to overcome a bout of chicken pox (Picture: Caters News Agency)

After doctors carried out a blood test they found out Sasha had contracted HIV from her mother in womb (Picture: Caters News Agency)

She was forced to leave school due to bullies and following the death of her mum to AIDS, Sasha’s life began to spiral out of control.


But after meeting partner Jay Hart, 32, seven years ago, Sasha was surprised when he wasn’t fazed by her HIV diagnosis and the pair have since had a child.

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Mum-of-two Sasha – who already had one child before meeting Jay – has chosen not to identify her children but said her entire family are HIV negative as she has not passed on the disease to Jay or her children.



The full time mum and HIV activist said: ‘People can’t believe it when I tell them I was born with the disease as they due to the stigma around HIV people assume you’ve caught it through unprotected sex.

‘When I was a teenager, I told one friend I had HIV, who then told my whole school, so I had no choice but to leave without taking my exams.

‘During my teens I was always emotional and feared I was going to die from the infection.

‘I didn’t take my medication as it was just a constant reminder I had HIV, but after losing my mum to AIDS it pushed me to be an HIV advocate.

‘He handled it so well, and we used a condom to ensure he was safe whilst he helped me accept that I had HIV’ (Picture: Caters News Agency)

‘I never thought I would ever be a mum, I was petrified to have a boyfriend as I didn’t want to infect anyone.

‘When I met Jay seven years ago in the pub, I did already have my eldest son who I knew didn’t have HIV.

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‘I fell completely head over heels in love with Jay but I was scared he might reject me once he found out.

‘He handled it so well, and we used a condom to ensure he was safe whilst he helped me accept that I had HIV.

‘HIV is treated with antiviral medications, which work by stopping the virus replicating in the body. This allows the immune system to repair itself and prevent further damage.

‘Due to being on the medication the amount of HIV in my blood count was low which meant that although there was a risk Jay would get HIV from me when we tried for a child, it was very small.

‘I now have two children who are 12 and five, and we couldn’t be happier.’

‘I now have two children who are 12 and five, and we couldn’t be happier’ (Picture: Caters News Agency)

Sasha said doctors discovered her mum Sharon Goodman, 42, had passed on the disease after catching it from unprotected sex.

She said: ‘My mum was diagnosed after I was as doctors knew I must’ve caught it before being born due to my young age.

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‘It’s thought she caught the disease through not being unprotected during sex at some point in her life.

‘I had a tough childhood and was raised by my grandparents, Jean and Bill Goodman, who have since died.

‘After being bed bound for two years the horrific side effects of HIV, I had to learn how to walk again along with being tube fed. I missed out on everything.



‘I remember putting up a fight when my grandparents would try and give me the medication as I was just a kid who never understood the disease was life threatening.’

The National Aids Trust states 97 per cent of people living with HIV who are on treatment are virally suppressed – they can’t pass the virus on.