Unforgettable Love: A Young Mother Turns Toward Hope and an AIDS-Free Generation

“I remember very well the love that my mother gave me because [that love] is unforgettable,” says Mont’seng. 

Her mother was a school teacher who also taught her daughter many things—including how to be self-reliant. While Mont’seng completed her high school in 2015, she could not further her studies due to financial constraints.  She knew she needed to take care of herself, so she learned about nail care and manicures and now has a career doing nails. 

“Life was never easy without parents, but I survived the hard way, and today I am the mother of my 18-month-old son,” she said. 

In 2020 Mont’seng became pregnant. During her pregnancy, she was tested for HIV and was shocked to find that she was positive.   

“The positive status devastated me, and I was depressed because I thought I would die and leave my baby at a young age, recalls Mont’seng, “because my mother had HIV and she died while I was still young,”  

“Thank you to health care workers and friendly services at the Queen Elizabeth II adolescent corner. I received psychosocial support, and as time went by, I was able to accept my HIV status and take my daily treatment to protect my baby,” says Mont’seng.  

Mont’seng’s worries evaporated when her son was born HIV-free, in October 2020, and she held him in her hands for the first time.  

“As a mother, I love my baby more than life itself. My son is my everything; he is my life. The way he hugs me and smiles at me, it melts my heart. I will never stop loving him,” she says. 

Mont’seng recalls that before having her son, she felt lonely as an orphan with no parents or siblings.  

“I had no purpose of living. Right now, I have all reasons to live and witness my son grow step by step. I can’t wait to see him grow to be a responsible man.” 

Mont’seng said she will also teach her son to be independent so that if she is gone one day, her son can also survive on his own. With effective HIV treatment, people living with HIV can expect normal life spans compared to those without HIV. So long as Mont’seng continues to have access to high-quality HIV care and treatment, she will live a long, healthy life.  

Like the love of her own late mother, Mont’seng’s love for her son is unforgettable.