Tim grew up in Cleveland, Ohio living with hard-working parents and a family that was like the Jackson 5 — lots of musical talent.  His grandparents had ten children so there were always lots of family around.  When he was younger his family had a hard time coming to terms with little Tim being different.  They eventually came around, but it wasn’t easy.  Tim’s parents got involved with drugs, which made the time they spent with Tim almost non-existent.  He spent much of his time with his grandmother but deeply missed being with his parents.

One year during the holidays Tim was with his parents and their friends who had a son who was much older than Tim.  This person raped Tim for many years and threatened that if he ever told anyone that he would kill him, so Tim kept quiet.  One day Tim couldn’t take it anymore and told his mom.

Tim was looking for someone he could trust and feel comfortable with. He found his “one and only” or so he thought, and dropped out of high school to pursue the relationship in another city. Several months later his partner disclosed that he was HIV positive. Tim’s family had an intervention and one of the conditions was that he go back and finish high school. Following graduation he got a leading role in a play and went on a national tour and then enrolled into college.  He was sure that his life was finally going on the right track when he got news that would turn his life upside down.

On Tim’s 21st birthday, after months of ignoring unbearable pains, he was rushed to the emergency room.  Doctors informed Tim and his mother that he had second stage syphilis, hepatitis A & B, a swollen spleen, kidney damage and HIV. Tim’s life came to a halt but it was the love and support of his mother that helped him get through the difficult times.

“I had the Superman Syndrome and had the mindset that it couldn’t happen to me, but I was sadly mistaken. I have learned to love myself and it’s my responsibility and duty to share that self respect and self love with other young people,” says Tim.  His past, present and future has inspired him to educate as many people as he possible can about HIV and AIDS.