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.
I was labeled a troublemaker, my mom an unfit mother, and I was not welcome anywhere.
Rumors of sneezing, kissing, tears, sweat, and saliva spreading AIDS caused people to panic.
This brought on the news media, TV crews, interviews, and numerous public appearances.
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.
Twice a week I would receive injections or IV's of Factor VIII which clotted the blood and then broke it down.
