We had great faith that with patience, understanding, and education, that my family and I could be helpful in changing their minds and attitudes around.
The school I was going to said they had no guidelines for a person with AIDS.
Given six months to live and being the fighter that I am, I set high goals for myself.
Twice a week I would receive injections or IV's of Factor VIII which clotted the blood and then broke it down.
On December 17, 1984, I had surgery to remove two inches of my left lung due to pneumonia. After two hours of surgery the doctors told my mother I had AIDS.
This brought on the news media, TV crews, interviews, and numerous public appearances.
Rumors of sneezing, kissing, tears, sweat, and saliva spreading AIDS caused people to panic.
I was labeled a troublemaker, my mom an unfit mother, and I was not welcome anywhere.
