Piedmont, MO
Positive since 1997

I grew up in the 1970s. When I found out that I had HIV in the 1990s, it was heartbreaking. My doctor told me that he had to stop seeing me because I was HIV positive and sent me to a great doctor in St. Louis.

For one year, I was not on meds at all. Then I found out I was getting sicker and sicker, so they had to put me on several different kinds of HIV drugs. Every six months or year, I had to switch and get new meds. But I told myself I would fight this and win this battle to the end, and today my health is the best it has ever been. I have been taking the same medication for the past four years and it is still working for me.

People just need to take the time and learn more about what they have—and you can teach others about HIV/AIDS. Growing up, I did not know as much as I do now. If you have HIV/AIDS, you need great friends and family that will not put you down.

My dad had a hard time taking it at first. I told him I was gay and then that I had HIV. When I told my mother and father about the HIV, I said it would be a hard road for me but that I needed their help to back me up. I also told them I had a lover who was HIV positive. I still do today.

Even though I lived in St. Louis, a fairly big city, people still looked at me funny when they discovered my status. So I packed up and moved to Piedmont, a very small Missouri farm town where my grandma and grandpa grew up.

I have been working to change this small town, as they do not know much about HIV. I want to get my town newspaper to write about World AIDS Day so that people can learn about HIV/AIDS. I feel that people need any information they can get.

I do have high and low days, but it does not stop me from telling others about the disease I have. I live one day a time, as each could be my last. I tell everyone this.

As a gay man in my 20s, I had the best time, but I did not know about safer sex. Luckily, I found a person who cares for me and we are on our 17th year together. He is my rock.

What three adjectives best describe you?
Caring, loving, learning

What is your greatest achievement?
My greatest achievement was getting to know all my family in this small town—now they do not look at me funny.

What is your greatest regret?
My regret is having unprotected sex. I didn’t know about safer sex.

What keeps you up at night?
Most of the time it is all the meds I take. I have to take a sleeping aid at night.

If you could change one thing about living with HIV, what would it be?
I would change the idea that HIV a gay disease: Anyone can get HIV/AIDS.

What is the best advice you ever received?
HIV is not the end of my life.

What person in the HIV/AIDS community do you most admire?
Dr. R. William Burmeister

What drives you to do what you do?
A future without HIV/AIDS

What is your motto?
My motto is to help others to help themselves.

If you had to evacuate your house immediately, what is the one thing you would grab on the way out?
I would take my three small dogs, as they are my life.

If you could be any animal, what would you be? And why?
A puppy. They are so caring to others.