Funding
Testing

James Grissom
HIV Positive
Steve Sherman
Coordinator, NC AIDS Drug Assistance Program
Peter Leone, M.D.
Medical Director, HIV/STD Prevention & Care Branch
Fred Wiggins
HIV Positive
Milford Evans
Benefits Advocate
Bart Haynes, M.D.
Director, Center for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Immunology, part of the National Institutes of Health

Acute HIV Testing
AIDS Funding
AIDS Research
AIDS Volunteers

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You've lived with HIV for more than eight years. How is your health?
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I put it this way, I have good days and bad days, mostly when I have pains and stuff. I'm so used to having them, I go along with my ordinary day like it's not there and try not to focus on it and it keeps me motivated.

I haven't missed a dosage since I've been here in Winston, and that's one reason why I guess I'm in as good a shape that I could be in because I believe in taking my medication on time and I try not to miss any.

You moved to Winston Salem in 2002 and were quick to get help to pay for your HIV medications.
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I didn't have anything. All I had was one box about this size. It was raining the day I got here, and I was really scared to death because I didn't know anybody. Even though I came out of treatment, I was still having reactions from not doing drugs and alcohol, and it was starting to upset me, and I just really felt bad. Once I made it to Samaritan ministries and I made it in, matter of fact the first night that I went in they had to call the rescue squad. I was taken sick, and that's how I found out about Baptist hospital, and they started working with me and helping me.

I came with a little supply of medications to keep me going, but they wasn't going to last long, so I actually started early and let somebody know that I needed help.

What was your reaction when you were placed on the waiting list for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program?
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It was scary then because I was wondering, my God, it seemed like one time I was trying to kill myself, now I want to live and what's going to happen if I don't have the money to buy my medicines. Will I be able to get help, and all that was going through my head. A lot of people pushed the issue and helped me to be able to get them.

I used to be, my pride, I would let the pride be in the front, and I would be ashamed or just didn't believe in asking for help. I'd rather suffer than ask someone to do something for me. It's not like that now.

Helping others is an important part of your life now, isn't it?
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I believe in helping people, so I'm intending to do more of that as long as I have the health and strength God gave me. That's what I'm going to use it for. I want to work with people more, to let my light shine, and to be successful, to let people know there is a way. You can get help if you try.

If I hadn't stopped doing drugs and alcohol I wouldn't be here. It was by the grace of God that I got sick because If I hadn't gotten sick, I never would have quit. And going to the hospital as sick as I was, they had already given up on me, and I refuse to go back that way.