Collections by Michelle Brown WSG Felix and Paula Sirls

Collections by Michelle Brown

Felix and Paula Sirls, have been married over twenty years and found each other at the most unlikely time. They are parents, grandparents, great grand-parents and both are HIV positive. Felix was a recovering addict when he was diagnosed. His doctor gave him one year to live. He moved to Detroit to be closer to his family and became a substance abuse counselor and was a facilitator for the Detroit Health Department. Recently retired he worked as an HIV and substance abuse counselors for over 30 years in three states. He not only continues to thrive but outlived the doctor who gave him that diagnosis of one year to live. Paula was infected by a long-term partner. After his death, she found herself not only HIV positive but also depressed and contemplating suicide. As fate would have it, while going through his belongings she found a card for a HIV support group. The facilitator happened to be Felix Sirls. In the program, she learned to love herself again and regain her self-esteem. When the program lost its funding, Felix found a new home to continue the support group. Paula followed him to Full Truth Fellowship of Christ Church and volunteered with the program. No longer counselor and client, a relationship developed and a deep love grew that continues to this day. Not only did they marry and blend families but they blended their passions for music, poetry and advocacy for people living with HIV/AIDS. They now work with “Gospel Against AIDS” whose mission is to equip houses of worship with HIV education, dispel myths and to eliminate the stigma associated with people living HIV. They also provide testing at various sites, teach prevention and share their story of love and thriving with HIV. They say “HIV is a get in you not a get on you virus. If a person doesn’t have HIV they don’t need to get it. Persons who do have it, can live with it.”