My name is Byron, and I was diagnosed my sophomore year in high school. I went to give blood, thinking that I was doing the community a service. There was this letter from the blood bank. I didn't even open it. I didn't want to see it because for some reason I knew what it was. So my dad goes, "Go see the doctor or go see the blood bank." And they told me I'm positive. My folks break down—they're a mess. I was so young, though. I was fifteen. I really didn't—I didn't care; I felt fine.
Stay strong. It's not the disease it used to be. No, you're not going to live to 80, 90, 100 right now. They may come up with something any day. That's how medicine works now. Listen to what the doctors have to say. Adhere to that. I've seen too many cases—I'm telling you, I'm so blessed by God. That's why I love getting up every morning. But, I mean, I hear so many times where people on and off, on and off, and they can't take medicines anymore because they become resistant. That is true.
So by now I'm like, "Okay, God, I know I'm supposed to (they're telling me) I'm going to die, I'm going to die, I'm going to die," but it's been fifteen years now. Then sixteen. Then seventeen. And I'm like, "Okay, I know you've got something for me. There's got to be a reason for me to be here."
It may be hard for you to tell people, you know, and it's not for you just to go out and tell everyone, but slowly start integrating people into the knowledge that you have it. Because you start integrating family and friends and it'll be easier for when, if you're not with a partner, you want to get with someone, it makes it easier to be able to confront them and just say from the beginning "I am positive." A lot of people aren't accepting, but you might be surprised.