Joey DiPaolo

Who is Joey DiPaolo?

Joey DiPaolo is an American AIDS activist. DiPaolo himself is HIV positive.

Joey 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.

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.

In 1988, DiPaolo was diagnosed with HIV. At the time, doctors gave DiPaolo only one year to live.

Doctors told the DiPaolo family that it would be best for them to hide DiPaolo's condition, on the belief that keeping the condition a secret would be in the family's best interests.

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 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.