Do unsettling truths bring harsh judgment? They do, but the price of denial is steep.

D. K. Sanz’s story begins in the drug-infested New York City streets of Woodside, Queens, during the tumultuous HIV/AIDS pandemic of the '80s and '90s. It offers a glimpse into how a now often-overlooked pandemic impacted Sanz’s nuclear family.

From her earliest days, Sanz was the easily forgotten stranger, always a little out of sync with the rest of the world—a tough but naïve kid and aspiring writer. Her triumph over illness and addiction includes amusing anecdotes and nostalgic, heartwarming memories.

Dive deeply into Sanz’s confessional self-sabotage, self-destruction, and the harrowing downward spiral she almost didn’t survive. Her never-before-told story ranges from recklessness and impudence to empathy, forgiveness, and love.

Sanz has since published several books under the name Kyrian Lyndon— primarily poetry, but also a novel—and she continues to work on sequels and an all-new fantasy series. You’ll find some of her poetry at the end of this book.

Whether struggling or not, you will find Grateful to Be Alive is a story of hope, defying insurmountable odds, finding joy, and a gradual transition toward authenticity and becoming the person Sanz always wanted to be.

Trigger warning: This book discusses a specific person’s experiences with drug overdose, HIV/AIDS, and mental health issues as a result of violence, abuse, and sexual assault. If necessary, please engage in self-care.