An HIV-positive trans woman whose life was transformed by her journey from New York City to San Francisco has dedicated herself to helping her community as the manager of clinical assistants and volunteers at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. In a tale of resilience and advocacy, Veronika Fimbres shares how her life changed dramatically when she moved from New York City to San Francisco over 25 years ago. Today, Veronika is the Manager of Clinical Assistants & Volunteers at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, where her dedication to her community shines brightly.
"Coming here saved my life," Veronika told CBS News Bay Area. "When I was in New York City, they told me, 'Get your things together because you're getting ready to die.' That was devastating.
Of course, here it is years later, and I'm a long-term survivor of HIV and AIDS, and I'm very thankful." Veronika's path to her current role was challenging. In 1996, she arrived in San Francisco after losing her brother and partner to AIDS, with little more than a few dollars and a strong sense of determination.
She made the city her home and committed herself to help others navigate the same challenges she once faced. "The city has my heart," Veronika says. "When Tony Bennett sings that he left his heart in San Francisco, whenever I go away from San Francisco, my heart is still here.
" Her activism began at an early age, inspired by civil rights struggles on TV. At 17, she witnessed the Stonewall Riots in New York City, a momen.