One cure at the time

Title: A Light in the Darkness

In the quaint town of Willow Creek, Mia was known for her vibrant spirit and the delicious pastries she made for her friends and family. At 28, she had dreams of opening a bakery that would be the heart of the community. But beneath her cheerful exterior lay a heavy burden that few knew about.

A few months into a new relationship, Mia received a diagnosis that turned her world upside down: she had herpes. The news felt like a cruel twist of fate, but the real agony came not just from the diagnosis itself but from the relentless outbreaks that followed. Each flare-up left her in pain and filled her with anxiety, leaving her to navigate a life filled with uncertainty and fear.

As Mia adjusted to living with herpes, she faced a constant emotional battle. The fear of an outbreak loomed over her, especially when she discovered she was pregnant. Every day was a new worry—would the virus harm her unborn child? Would she have to face the stigma of being a mother with herpes? The questions haunted her as she tried to prepare for the beautiful life she envisioned for her family.

The stress took its toll, leading her to endure harsh treatments that left her feeling physically and emotionally drained. One fateful day, during a routine check-up, her doctor delivered devastating news: her kidneys were failing due to the medications meant to manage her outbreaks. Mia’s heart sank. She had always imagined being there for her children, guiding them through life’s challenges, but now she faced the terrifying prospect of leaving them behind.

With each outbreak and treatment to control the virus, Mia's fears grew. She worried about kissing her children, anxious that even a brief moment of affection could lead to an outbreak that would affect them. The thought of passing on the virus to her kids filled her with guilt and sorrow. The once-simple act of a loving kiss became a source of anxiety.

As Mia learned more about the virus, she uncovered another layer of fear: the rare possibility of herpes encephalitis. The thought of the virus potentially traveling to her brain, leading to neurological dysfunction, was terrifying. What if one day she could no longer care for her children? What if she needed to be placed in a nursing home, unable to recognize her own family? These thoughts kept her up at night, and the weight of her worries grew heavier.

One day, while scrolling through social media, Mia stumbled upon a nonprofit organization dedicated to finding a cure not only for herpes but other diseases as well and supporting those affected by it. This organization, called The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center located in Seattle, Washington.

Mia began to reclaim her life. She learned that herpes was not a defining characteristic of her identity; it was simply a part of her journey.

She started attending support groups, where she met others who understood her struggles. They shared stories of resilience, love, and triumph over adversity. Mia found herself laughing again, this time with people who truly understood her pain.

As she became more involved, she learned about the urgent need for funding to support research for a cure. Each day, thousands of people were diagnosed not only for HSV 1 & HSV 2 but other diseases like HIV which can be transmitted not only sexually but also when you’re born or you accidentally cut yourself with an object that was exposed to the virus.

Many were left feeling alone and ashamed, just as she had felt. Fueled by her own experiences, Mia decided to take action.

She organized a bake sale in her town, aptly named “Baking for a Cure.” She poured her heart into every cupcake and cookie.

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In the United States, 50–80%of adults have herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), which causes cold sores or fever blisters

In the United States, the CDC estimates that around 600,000 people are newly infected with genital herpes each year. Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 42 million people are newly infected with genital herpes each year.

* Gender: The prevalence of HSV-1 is higher in females than males.

Today: Approximately 1.2 million people in the U.S.A have HIV About 13 percent of them don’t know it and need testing.

About 8,000 people die from HIV-related illnesses each year.

In 2023, an estimated 40 million people were living with HIV worldwide, including 2.38 million children aged 0–19.

Children make up 4% of people living with HIV, but 15% of AIDS-related death.

Despise these huge numbers there’s been a lack of support for our people living in these conditions, leaving them with no other option but to be slaves of the Pharmaceutical industry.

Help to change the world! Illness, chronic disease, viruses.. You name it! They do not discriminate.

You want to live a fulfilling life, I want to live a fulfilling life and we want our children to live a safe and fulfilling life.

They’re working hard to start their in-human trials! We are getting closer for a cure to HSV.