International AIDs activist Hydeia Broadbent has died, her father has confirmed in a social media post. She was 39.
In a post on Facebook, Hydeia’s father has described her as a woman who “remained determined to spread hope.”
“With great sadness, I must inform you all that our beloved friend, mentor, and daughter Hydeia, passed away today after living with Aids since birth. Despite facing numerous challenges throughout her life, Hydeia remained determined to spread hope and positivity through education around HIV/AIDS,” Loren Broadbent has written.
Broadbent was adopted after being abandoned in Nevada by a mother addicted to drugs. Shortly before she turned four, her parents discovered she had been HIV-positive since birth, and had contracted AIDS.
By age six, Broadbent was speaking publicly about the disease, telling her story on a number of global platforms including “Oprah,” “20/20,” and “Good Morning America.”
