Dawn contracted HIV in the early '90s in Africa following a blood transfusion during a difficult pregnancy, in which she lost her baby. Her next child then also died a few months after he was born, from Jaundice. On discovering she was pregnant for a third time she was afraid that she would lose the baby but the hospital did all they could to support her. This was when she was tested for HIV and they discovered her status. Because she associated HIV with illness and morbidity, her and her husband did not believe her diagnosis. It was only after her husband died in 2004 from an AIDS related illness that Dawn was retested and accepted her status. Since then Dawn has been on medication and her life is 'normal, no problem' - her main aim is to help other people.