Hydeia Broadbent

Hydeia Loren Broadbent (June 14, 1984 – February 20, 2024) was an American HIV/AIDS activist who advocated through appearances in national media and as a spokesperson for related foundations.

Born with HIV, Broadbent began taking part in trials for treatment of HIV at the age of three. She was initially taken in as a foster child by Loren and Patricia Broadbent who later adopted her. In 1987, the Broadbents learned that Hydeia was HIV positive.

Her adoptive mother signed her up for a research trial in hopes of finding a treatment that would work for Hydeia. Growing up, Hydeia regularly had blood infections, pneumonia, and fungal infections in her brain. It was predicted that she would not survive childhood, and would die at the age of five.

She began attending school in seventh grade and attended Odyssey Charter High School in Las Vegas from home using a computer. She later appeared on Oprah: Where Are They Now?, as she was one of the most-requested guests to be revisited. The family also appeared on an episode of Extreme Home Makeover in 2004.

In 2012, Broadbent became an honorary member of Sigma Gamma Rho sorority. In 2014, Broadbent was a spokesperson on behalf of the Magic Johnson Foundation and other AIDS activist organizations in order to educate people about HIV/AIDS, raise awareness, and fight discrimination against those living with HIV/AIDS. Broadbent traveled extensively both nationally and internationally to speak to others. In tribute after her death, Magic Johnson posted a video clip online from a 1992 interview, where both he and Broadbent spoke, with Broadbent, age 7, saying, "I want people to know that we're just normal people," and according to The New York Times, "her face crumpling as she fought through tears", and Johnson telling her, "We are normal people."