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.

I was labeled a troublemaker, my mom an unfit mother, and I was not welcome anywhere.

I came face to face with death at thirteen years old.

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

I'm just one of the kids, and all because the students at Hamilton Heights High School listened to the facts, educated their parents and themselves, and believed in me.

Financial hardships were rough on us, even though Mom had a good job at G.M.

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.