Shana Cozad, a member of the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma, has been living with HIV for 18 years.

Cozad, 39, says it's been difficult to live with the diagnosis. But it hasn't stopped her from raising her family.

"It's still very much a very powerful disease to deal with," Cozad told The Tulsa World. "There are no shortcuts, and there are no easy answers."

Cozad is helping to raise awareness of HIV on World AIDS Day. She is speaking at an event today at the Langston University-Tulsa campus.

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Living with HIV/AIDS (The Tulsa World 12/1)