There are an estimated 33 million people living with
HIV in the World. There are over 1 million people living with HIV/AIDS in the
United States.
AIDS isn't over until it's over...
May
8, 2007
24 years
of kickin'
HIV
butt!
I pray other people living with HIV/AIDS realize that AIDS doesn't equal death.
Rather, living with HIV/AIDS equals life!
Thank
you
to Teresa
Reed,
my many
friends
and
my family!
NEVER EVER SURRENDER!
Bob:
Close
your
eyes.
Wrap
your
arms
around
yourself.
Squeeze
tightly.
You've
just
been
hugged
by me.
Thinking
of you
as always
and
wishing
you
the
happiest
birthday.
I hope
someone
treats
you
like
a King.
Love
you,
Berp
Twenty
years from now
you will be
more disappointed
by the things
you didn't do
than by the
ones you did
do. So throw
off the bowlines.
Sail away from
the safe harbor.
Catch the trade
winds in your
sails. Explore.
Dream. Discover.
~Mark Twain
For many grown
men in their forties, a birthday
may not seem like that big a deal.
While I remain a kid at
heart,
it is the sheer reality that I have
survived living with a supposed
death sentence for over two decades
that lends great reason to celebrate.
While I've never envisioned myself
as 'dead,' I truly never in my wildest
imagination would have thought I'd
be here today. I was diagnosed with
HIV/AIDS before there was even as
much as a single medication to treat
the virus. Battling through debilitating
side effects, opportunistic infections,
heart disease and such, it truly
came down to one day at a time,
which has led me to this very moment
that I write this. If not for the
outpouring of love and support I've
received from all who have blessed
my path in life, there would indeed
be no 44th to celebrate. So, not
only is it a joy to celebrate my
birthdays as a 'grown man,' it also
brings me far more joy to celebrate
your love, the triumph of the human
spirit and the power of compassion!
Thank you to those who came to my
three celebrations and showered
me with love and generosity. Thank
you to my family for their unwavering
love, generosity and support!
It is without a doubt a
fantastic voyage! Your compassion
truly humbles and sustains me!
The National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA)
is the oldest national AIDS organization, as well as the
first network of people living with HIV/AIDS in the
world. We believe in making a difference in the lives of
our constituents. We do this by:
•
providing information and resources;
• telling our collective stories in HIV from the past,
present, and future;
• and being the trusted independent voice of people
living with HIV.
