May 11, 1987

It was a beautiful sunny day with all the possibilities of the wonderful life I was living.

For a few months prior to May 11 I had become aware through newspaper articles (barely a paragraph) that there was a cancer that was affecting gay men living in California, later to be known as GRID.

I was able to research the phenomenon with minimal success and was sure through my search that I was not at risk since I had been in a monogamous relationship and the obvious fact that I lived in Wyoming. Although I was certain that I had not been exposed I thought it would be prudent to be certain.
Not having a Doctor proved to be one of the many obstacles I would face. Being creative, I went to the trusty yellow pages and let my fingers do the walking. I set up the appointment and was informed that I was the first person to request to be tested. After drawing blood I had two weeks before I would get the results.  
Two days later I received a call from the Doctor’s office, not the receptionist, the Doctor.  Not really being familiar with protocol I was sure that Doctor’s didn’t make calls themselves, my first indication that I was in trouble.

I was told over the phone that the initial test came back positive and that the secondary confirmatory test would be back in two weeks. A follow up appointment confirmed and signed my death sentence.

How? Why? When? Who?

After thoughtful contemplation I decided that I would deliver the worst possible news to my family and friends. With the only information available at the time I was given a few years on the outset ten years to live. This proved to be a significant challenge and continues to be a factor in all things that affect my life.

After many hours of tears, not for myself but for my family I felt that I burdened with heartache and grief, I decided to accept my new direction in life. With this mind set I figured out that the how, why, when or who was really insignificant. I needed to understand that I would continue to educate myself and the following years proved to add division, suspicion, millions of deaths across the World due to AIDS and finally HIV Drug Therapy.

I am blessed after 22 years of diagnosis to have the ability to write you today with encouragement, support and all the possibilities that living with HIV/Aids has become today.  

We at Wyoming Positives for Positives welcome you to your web-site. It is our hope that as we continue to grow and expand the services available, that you continue to visit and submit your suggestions to ensure parity and inclusion for us all.

We will continue to update information especially those pertaining to support for those of us living in Wyoming. Please take a few minutes to check out the information available at this time.

The most effective weapon against HIV transmission is to know your status. For a testing site near you go to KnoWyo.org under the Resources tab.

HIV CONTENT NOTICE: This site may contain HIV prevention messages that may not be appropriate for all audiences. Since HIV infection is spread primarily through sexual practices or by sharing needles, prevention messages and programs may address these topics. If you are not seeking such information or may be offended by such materials, please exit this site.

MEDICAL INFORMATION DISCLAIMER: All information contained on this web site, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational and educational purposes only. Although this web site may provide visitors with information to better understand their health and risk factors for specific diseases, the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) does not intend to provide specific medical advice. Any information presented is not meant to substitute for the advice provided by your own doctor or other medical professionals. WDH and the HIV/AIDS/Hepatitis Program urge you to consult with a qualified health care provider for diagnosis, treatment, and answers to your personal health care questions.

PLEASE NOTE: Positives for Positives is seeking a Grant writer to research available funding sources available for HIV/AIDS related programs. For more information please e-mail.