cians. They are not sugar-coated,
the stories he shares. He dispels
the current myth many have about
managing living with HIV, that
one simply pops some pills and
everything is better. I let them
know all the complications that
come with it, all the side effects.
All the extra surprises you get
every year. He is a witness and
advocate for those of us whove
been living with HIV long-term.
His story has changed over the
years. Daniel says, The way that
I teach is different now. I have to
come from, I hate to say a fear
tactic, but there is a little bit of
fear I put into kids.
We got to sit down with Daniel
and explore some of what makes
him the great advocate he is today.
iPain: What Do You Think
Needs To Be Done to Raise HIVAIDS
Disease Awareness In The
Medical Community And The
Public?
DGG: In my opinion the medical
community has all the tools needed
to raise HIV/AIDS awareness
they just needed to be catered to
the different cultural and religious
backgrounds. This would bring it
to a place where the public can
embrace the information without
judgement, stigma or shame.
iPain: When Were You Diagnosed?
DGG: I was diagnosed in September
2000 in Houston Texas.
iPain: How Was The Diagnosis
Process For You, Do You Think
It is Getting Better or Worse Today?
DGG: Finding out I had AIDS
was an odd experience that I dont
think I took seriously. I was in
the hospital at Ben Taub General
in Houston Texas. My family was
in the room with me when the
doctor came in to give me my results,
which then took about 4
days to get, today its 20 minutes.
At the time all I wanted to know
is when I could leave the hospital,
if I was going to walk again and if
my hair would grow back.
There was no one to talk to about
what was going through my head.
Photo Credit: Richard Wayne Kilgo II