Daniel was chronically underweight and
sickly; he initially blamed his hardpartying
lifestyle. Daniel wound up in
hospital with 108 T cells and weighing
110 pounds. The news he had avoided for
years was now there in black and white.
He had the frighteningly real diagnosis of
AIDS. “Oddly enough, as a kid, I never
saw me going past thirty years old. I always
thought I would die at thirty.” In one
way, a call to action, launching his long career as an activist and educator.
In another way, it gave him the excuse to continue to use. His
parents and family, who had begun to come around to his being gay,
were ill-prepared for an AIDS diagnosis. Daniel found himself lacking
the adequate knowledge and tools to allay their fears. He got involved
with HIV advocacy and outreach, learning as he went along. He ended
up volunteering at an agency where he himself had gone to learn about
his disease. Daniel is now an activist and an HIV Outreach Ambassador.
Ironically, he went back to college and studied to be a drug and
alcohol counselor while still using himself. He sobered up and in 2009
moved to California, where he still resides and is busier than ever
making a difference. He shares his story with students, from junior
high all the way to those doing graduate work in medicine, on their
way to becoming the next generation of physicians.
Megan has a Master of Arts Grad in
2015 with a concentration in Digital
Multimedia Journalism. She is a passionate
writer and reporter and freelance
travel blogger. Her experience
is in journalism, marketing, promotions,
videography, and public relations.
Her main area of publication is
at large coverage of Denville Township,
Mountain Lakes, Boonton, and
Rockaway Township of New Jersey. Responsibilities include
township council and board of education meeting coverage in New
Jersey. Megan’s Health Articles have appeared in The Citizen,
Roxbury Register, Observer Tribune, Randolph Reporter, iPain
Living Magazine and Morris News Bee. Now Megan is the Executive
Editor for My Paper Online. In the past she has hosted a fundraiser
for iPain through the PAmily and All Access Abdul Podcast.
Earlier this year Megan wrote cover story for iPain Living Magazine
on Paula Abdul. Some of her other articles on health and pain
include Wellness Fair Smooths Feelings at Mountain Lakes High
School Oct. 2018 edition of The Citizen Newspaper, Traumatic
Brain Injury leads Morristown Man to new life. Appeared in Morris
News Bee, Father's Day bike ride to raise money for their
neighbor who had ALS.
Internaonal Pain Foundaon—47