Listening to medical facts was not enough. People wanted one hundred percent guarantees.

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

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

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

Most recently my battle has been against AIDS and the discrimination surrounding it.

AIDS can destroy a family if you let it, but luckily for my sister and me, Mom taught us to keep going. Don't give up, be proud of who you are, and never feel sorry for yourself.

I believe in myself as I look forward to graduating from Hamilton Heights High School in 1991.