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.

Given six months to live and being the fighter that I am, I set high goals for myself.

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

People would get up and leave so they would not have to sit anywhere near me.

Twice a week I would receive injections or IV's of Factor VIII which clotted the blood and then broke it down.

This brought on the news media, TV crews, interviews, and numerous public appearances.

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