SHARED by StevE

STEVE

This is about me, Steve, who spent many hours on many days at the Belmont Rocks in the mid-to late-seventies.

I picked up any number of other men, and I assume I was exposed to HIV during those years before safe sex. I was diagnosed with GRID (Gay-Related Immune Deficiency) in 1982. After two years of severe illnesses like hepatitis, CMV, mononucleosis, and pneumonia, in 1984 I was diagnosed with stage 4 lymphoma, Kaposi's sarcoma and full-blown AIDS, and was told I would not live to see 1985.

I did live, obviously!

In 1985, I was patient # one on the first antiviral drug trial, a drug called suramin. Both the KS and lymphoma went into complete remission. Suramin then very nearly killed me, but I survived that, too. I was well for 20 years after that, but then had a few years of severe illnesses due to the accelerated aging process of advanced HIV.

I survived all that, and have been well for another 8 years. But it all started on the Belmont Rocks where I no doubt picked up the man (or men) who unwittingly exposed me to HIV.

SHARED by Steve

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