Gene:

In December 1988, I was told that I would certainly die within two years tops. I had been infected with HIV through my use of commercially produced blood products --- clotting factor needed to treat my life-long affliction of Hemophilia.

I changed my life, instead of giving in to what the naysayers felt was my certain fate. I made the important discovery that HIV is esstentially a spiritual disease, and fought it primarliy on that level.

In between then and now --- approximately 99% of the men who were infected along with me are now all deceased, and this included my own mentor, a great friend of mine who I really respected. He was interviewed on 60 MINUTES about the shitty situation we suddenly found ourselves in.

For the past six years, the virus has been completely undetectable in my system, and my immune repsonse has more than tripled since 1988. I am considered to be in FULL REMISSION.

What I thought was THIRTY YEARS robbed from me, has now been returned to me in the form of a greatly expanded life expectancy.

I am grateful for having one of the top specialists in the field, but I made a decision to fight it my own way, and it worked! I lived through something that was supposed to kill me.

Oh yeah --- in its' own way, HIV was the BEST THING that ever happened to me. It really opened my eyes to the way the world did not want to be seen.

I now enjoy every sunset, at my own private beach --- it's my own little slice of heaven.

Peace and Prayers,

Kent Daniel Bentkowski Buffalo, NY USA