Brooklyn, New York
Positive since 1992

I was diagnosed with HIV in 1992. I am now 52 years old. Deciding not to give up is something I have had to do every single time I got sick, got a rash or some other pain or bad feeling I never experienced before. The only problem was I thought it was time to die each of those times, so I put down or gave up on things I was trying to accomplish. I was very depressed, alone and afraid.

But then I decide not to give up. Again and again and—you get the idea. Well, now this is it. Not to die, but my time to fly!

I hope to accomplish my dreams of becoming successful in one (or more) of my endeavors, which include author, inventor, designer, business developer and/or real estate investor. These are projects/goals I’ve been working on for years and I believe I will be a success story to motivate all in my shoes to know that hope is real and powerful. I want to help so many others.

What three adjectives best describe you?
Creative, spiritual, enthusiastic

What is your greatest achievement?
Raising my children to be responsible adults

What is your greatest regret?
Not finishing school

What keeps you up at night?
Trying to achieve my goals

If you could change one thing about living with HIV, what would it be?
Create a program for HIV entrepreneurs to realize their dreams

What is the best advice you ever received?
Join the army.

What drives you to do what you do?
Family and personal other desires

What is your motto?
Each one teach one.

If you had to evacuate your house immediately, what is the one thing you would grab on the way out?
Besides my family and documents, I’d grab my laptops.

If you could be any animal, what would you be? And why?
The lion, because he is a leader.