In the midst of a pandemic, there is an epidemic. According to the federal government, about 1.2 million Americans have HIV. Almost 13% of them don’t know they have it.

The first cases of HIV were diagnosed 40 years ago. In those four decades, medical advancements have dramatically changed the outlook of those who test positive.

But when Marz Albarran, 33, was born with the disease, it was still largely considered a death sentence.

“It was a time for a lot of death. When you got an AIDS diagnosis, or an HIV diagnosis back then, it was certain death. It was just a matter of how long,” says Albarran.

Albarran was raised by their aunt and uncle in Chicago. They spent much of their childhood in and out of hospitals, as doctors attempted to find a drug cocktail that would work. They were given several different “death days,” or estimations of when doctors thought they’d live until.

“I was sick constantly. If it wasn’t pneumonia, it was some other cold or cough or some other illness such as shingles or chicken pox,” says Albarran.

Albarran is now undetectable. That means their HIV can no longer be found by standard blood tests, and it can’t be spread by sex.

Albarran spends much of their time working as an advocate. They have helped plan events for the Damien Center in Albany and is featured in the statewide campaign HIV Stops with Me.

“At the end of the day, I believe that I am still here because I was meant to spread this message and this story,” says Albarran. “If people can learn from my experience or at least feel some type of relativity, feel like they’re not alone, then I’m really doing what I feel like I was meant to do within advocacy.”