Emma Cole 'Positive Voice' HIV+

Self portrait wearing red jumper and leather jacket in front of school entrance sign for Notting Hill and Ealing High School GDST.

Yesterday I returned to speak at Notting Hill and Ealing High School for the 29th year. I first spoke here in 1993, just a couple of years after my #HIV diagnosis. One of the pupils from those early years hearing me speak is now a teacher here and still remembers the impact my talk had.

Forgot to tag @adaywithhiv.bsky.social

13.32pm, Windsor Great Park #adaywithhiv

During my 34 years of living with #HIV, it is taking time out in nature where I have been my happiest. Today's walk with my husband B to photograph fungi in Windsor Great Park.

#adaywithhiv
#hivpositive
#hivlongtermsurvivor

Self portrait in blue trousers and waistcoat in front of shelf of green plants.

Marking 34 years ago today that I received my #HIVpositive diagnosis by heading off to deliver a Positive Voice talk to pupils in High Wycombe. Eternally grateful to everyone in my life who has contributed to my survival since 1991. #longtermsurvivor #HIV

What an amazing life the two of you shared. It's never easy to lose a beloved pet, so I'm thinking of you today.

A week into the new academic year, two school visits to Harrogate and Sedbergh done, and 41 more talks booked in before the end of this year.
Love each opportunity I'm given to share my Positive Voice talk to educate a new generation of young people about #HIV.

Day trip to Paris yesterday to see the David Hockney exhibition at Fondation Louis Vuitton, one of my favourite buildings. A joy to see over 400 pieces of work on display, lots of inspiration for my current creative burst. #davidhockney

Multi coloured doodles painted on canvas. All sorts of shapes, dots, lines and shapes.

With my school talks on summer break I get to fill my days with creative endeavours. Just finished this painting to sell at my friend's open studio later this month. It's mindfulness set loose with paints. Really enjoyed this one, mostly listening to @brucespringsteen.net while I worked.

I cannot speak highly enough of all the wonderful NHS staff at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital who are currently treating B on the AAU. Triaged within 5 minutes of arriving at 4am Thursday, straight through to Resus, emergency endoscopy, CT scan all within 12 hours. Staying in until he's stable.

Took advantage of the Members Early Morning @painshill.bsky.social, arrived just after 8am to enjoy nearly 3 hours of walking through the landscape before the rain. Some much needed time-out from caring for my partner who is in the midst of another mental health crisis.
#painshill #natureheals

Today marks #ZeroHIVStigmaDay. I chose to live openly as a woman with #HIV within weeks of my diagnosis in 1991 and have continued to educate about HIV for over 30 years to help tackle stigma, raise awareness and challenge stereotypes.
#hivpositive
#zerohivstigmaday
#hivstigma
#tacklinghivstigma

Honoured to have been interviewed for Poz Planet.

Thank you so much @jadeelektra.bsky.social for the opportunity to share my story. Hopefully it will encourage others to do the same. ❤️

Woman in red dress with red lipstick next to a vase of pink flowers

56th birthday. Never expected to be here when diagnosed #HIVpositive in 1991 aged 22. Originally told 8-10 years to live, so every extra birthday is testament to the amazing NHS care, HIV meds and most importantly the love of my inner circle, including B and my sisters. #birthday #longtermsurvivor

Woman in green dress in front of a long table with yellow and orange pieces of A4 paper with questions written on them.

Participated in the priority setting workshop led by @richard-ma.bsky.social yesterday. Looking at research ideas for older people with HIV. Very interesting to see the variety of topics suggested. Grateful that as a long-term survivor I am facing older age, never expected to when diagnosed in 1991.

Very poignant to see the #aidsquiltuk this afternoon at Tate Modern. Seeing names of people I knew from the early years of my diagnosis remembered in their quilts. We must never forget the past and all those people we lost to AIDS.

Trump team set to destroy $12m worth of HIV drugs and contraceptives bought by USAID The life-saving drugs and contraceptives have been sitting in warehouses since January

" Roughly $12 million worth of #HIV-prevention drugs and contraceptives purchased by the U.S. Agency for International Development will likely be destroyed after President Donald Trump dismantled the organization"

Today, June 5th, is HIV Long-term Survivors Awareness Day, largely a US event but I want to acknowledge all of us in the UK who've been living with HIV for decades and live with the battle scars of life before treatment. 34 years since my diagnosis, living a life I never expected to have. #HLTSAD

Collage of 3 photos 1) Emma in the stand of seats in front of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea. Wearing fawn raincoat with 2 military medals on right side. 2) Chelsea Pensioners in full red uniforms in formation to receive Governor's salute. 3) Chelsea Pensioners sat in 6 groups separated by pillars of the walkway; 4 uniformed military bands men stood on roof above the walkway with trumpets.

B and I attended the Governor's Review at the Royal Hospital this morning. Wearing my late father's military medals for the occasion. Wonderful to see the #ChelseaPensioners parade and hear the military band perform.

Single yellow rose on gravestone of Ian, with date of death 22nd May 1993 visible

At Highgate cemetery to visit Ian's grave, 32 years ago today he died from an #AIDS related illness at Patrick House hospice in Hammersmith. Place a yellow rose on his grave so his spirit knows he is still remembered with love. #whatisrememberedlives

I've sent you an email, I'd love the opportunity to be interviewed. Thanks 😊

A day of self care yesterday as I took a train out to spend the afternoon @rspb.bsky.social Rye Meads before walking back along the canal for a couple of miles to Broxbourne. A day for quiet contemplation in nature, just listening to birdsong for a few hours.

Congratulations Mel, that is wonderful news.

Have your say to improve the care of people aged over 50 living with HIV in the UK

Are you living with #HIV & aged over 50 in the UK or a carer for someone who is?

What are your health and care concerns about HIV and ageing?

Please help to create a "bank" of research questions to improve the health and care of older adults with HIV

app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/socs/have-...

23rd April 2017...8 years ago today I was running the London Marathon, marking what was then my 26th year of living with #HIV, hence 26 Red Ribbons sewn onto my running vest. Finished in under 6 hours which was my target time, having only done 150 miles in training runs!

Collage of 6 photos. 1) Plate of fish & chips 2) Hastings Castle 3) Fishing boat called Gratitude on the seafront beach 4) Net stores (tall black, narrow wooden structures) 5) Emma stood near Metal sculpture of boat hull on the beach 6) Hastings pier

Day trip to Hastings with B today, beautifully sunny day to explore the seafront and castle, enjoyed best fish 'n' chips at Maggie's. Enjoyed visiting the Fishermen's and Shipwrecks Museums, and discovering the unique Net Stores.

Self portrait wearing glasses in front of entrance sign for Woldinham School

In 1993, the late Sr Dorothy Bell took me with her to #Woldingham School to speak to pupils about living with #HIV. It was the start of more than 3 decades of visits to educate pupils.

Today I returned for my 31st visit to speak with a fantastic Year 11 audience as part of their Thrive programme.

Huge respect to everyone working in A&E departments. Spent 12 hours yesterday dealing with a medical emergency with my partner. Firstly at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital before being transferred to Charing Cross. Everyone we encountered were kind, compassionate and professional.

Two self portraits side by side, on the left me at my graduation in gown and mortar board with text that says '1991, diagnosed HIV+'; on the right headphones, wearing black top with a Red Ribbon and text that says '2025, living well with HIV for 34 years'.

It's #nationalhivtestingweek

I contracted #HIV when a condom failed, my boyfriend at the time then told me he was HIV+

If he'd said nothing, I would never have thought someone like me should take an #hivtest and I'd be undiagnosed.

If you’ve EVER had unprotected sex, take a test #knowyourstatus.

10 years ago today I was in Paris, came back from that trip to spend my first night with B. So on our 10th anniversary today we had a civil partnership to legally recognise our relationship.
I feel incredibly blessed to have found someone to spend my life with. ❤️