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.

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.

I received thousands of letters of support from all around the world, all because I wanted to go to school.

The school I was going to said they had no guidelines for a person with AIDS.

My studies are important to me. I made the honor role just recently, with 2 A's and 2 B's.

I spent Christmas and the next thirty days in the hospital.