Joey DiPaolo

DiPaolo is an AIDS activist who meets and talks with many other AIDS patients yearly. In 2000 he founded Camp TLC (Together Living a Challenge) for youngsters who cannot attend regular summer camps because of AIDS.

The DiPaolo case made headlines internationally, and it was covered by different types of media. In 1992, HBO aired the Lifestories: Families in Crisis special "Blood Brothers: The Joey DiPaolo Story".

In 1990, DiPaolo once again faced death: He became so ill early during that year that, at one point, doctors gave him only two days to live. He recovered, and later on, he was able to attend an AIDS funds gala, where he met NFL football player Lawrence Taylor. Taylor autographed a ball for DiPaolo, and the two had a photo taken together. DiPaolo had decided to uncover his secret about being HIV positive.

DiPaolo, nevertheless, became a very active boy in school with the help of medicines, and he made friendships. He experienced a health improvement in 1989, and seemed to live the normal life that other children led.

In 1988, DiPaolo was diagnosed with HIV. At the time, doctors gave him only one year to live. Doctors told the DiPaolo family that it would be best for them to hide his condition.

From 1985 to 1988, DiPaolo went through several episodes of sickness; although none of them were related to his heart. DiPaolo spent many days and nights suffering from different kinds of symptoms during that period.

DiPaolo contracted HIV during a heart surgery in 1984. He required a blood transfusion, and the blood given to him came from an HIV-infected donor. DiPaolo had been diagnosed with ASD, a type of heart disease, and surgery was needed to save his life.

Joey DiPaolo (born September 5, 1979) is an American AIDS activist who is HIV positive.