A Life-Changing Call Leads to a New Purpose
Kennedi Lowman was 29 and working as a medical lab scientist in Atlanta when her life changed. After donating blood, she received a call from the American Red Cross asking her to respond urgently.
As a healthcare worker, she knew what that could mean. She was right. The news was life-altering: Kennedi had tested positive for HIV.
Finding Strength After the Storm
At first, she felt fear and shame. “I thought no one would want to date me, that I couldn’t have kids,” she shared. She entered a deep two-year depression, telling only her sisters about her diagnosis.
But things began to shift when she took control of her story. “HIV saved my life,” she now says with confidence. That diagnosis pushed her to live with greater purpose and intention.
Creating LOTUS for Women Like Her
On World AIDS Day in 2018, Kennedi shared her story publicly for the first time. She realized Black women living with HIV were missing from public conversations. “So I became that person,” she said.
Kennedi then co-founded LOTUS — Loving Ourselves Through Unity and Strength. This national organization provides emotional support, education, and empowerment to cisgender women living with HIV.
Building a Space of Healing and Hope
LOTUS is more than a name. It’s a community that uplifts. Kennedi leads support groups, checks in on college students living with HIV, and creates a safe space where women feel seen and heard.
“It’s like the world looks at everyone else living with HIV except for cisgender women,” she explained. Through LOTUS, she is changing that narrative.
Turning Pain Into Power
Today, Kennedi is a voice of strength for others walking similar paths. What started as a personal challenge became a mission to support others.
“Support is everything,” she said. “It can change someone’s life.” Her work proves that healing is possible and purpose can be born from pain.
