Joey DiPaolo
Encyclopedia
Joey DiPaolo is a New York
native who is an 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 AIDS patient. 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 medicine
s, 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 autograph
ed a ball for DiPaolo, and the two had a photo taken together. DiPaolo had decided to uncover his secret about being HIV positive.
DiPaolo could not possibly imagine what kinds of problems the photo would bring him when it was published by a newspaper the next day: He was met with disdain by many of his schoolmates and their parents. Parents protested because they did not want DiPaolo to attend school with their children, and family friends turned their backs on the DiPaolo family, on the belief that by befriending the DiPaolo's, they had put their own lives at risk. Eventually, many of those that initially abandoned the family returned to be friends with the DiPaolos.
Joey DiPaolo faced crowds of protesters in front of his school for a period after he voluntarily took the step of disclosing his disease. A long, legal battle ensued between the DiPaolo family and parents of children of the school that DiPaolo went to. The parents were afraid that their kids could catch AIDS by being in contact with Joey, and they wanted Joey out of the school. At one point, Joey's father planned to move to New Jersey
, where, he figured, Joey would be accepted to a new school.
Eventually, a New York court decided that Joey DiPaolo would stay in the educational center he attended.
The DiPaolo case made headlines internationally, and it was covered by different types of media, such as multiple television
channels and newspapers. In 1992, HBO aired the "Lifestories: Families in Crisis
" special "Blood Brothers: The Joey DiPaolo Story".
Later on, DiPaolo established a lawsuit
against the center from which the blood
with which he was contaminated came from. He won the lawsuit.
Joey DiPaolo is currently an AIDS activist who meets and talks with many other AIDS patients yearly. He currently attends Fordam Prep.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
native who is an AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
activist. DiPaolo himself is HIV positive.
Joey DiPaolo contracted HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
during a heart
Heart
The heart is a myogenic muscular organ found in all animals with a circulatory system , that is responsible for pumping blood throughout the blood vessels by repeated, rhythmic contractions...
surgery
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
in 1984. He required a blood transfusion
Blood transfusion
Blood transfusion is the process of receiving blood products into one's circulation intravenously. Transfusions are used in a variety of medical conditions to replace lost components of the blood...
, and the blood given to him came from an AIDS patient. DiPaolo had been diagnosed with ASD
Atrial septal defect
Atrial septal defect is a form of congenital heart defect that enables blood flow between the left and right atria via the interatrial septum. The interatrial septum is the tissue that divides the right and left atria...
, 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 medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
s, 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
Death
Death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury....
: 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
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player Lawrence Taylor
Lawrence Taylor
Lawrence Julius Taylor , nicknamed "L.T.", is a Hall of Fame former American football player. Taylor played his entire professional career as a linebacker for the New York Giants in the National Football League...
. Taylor autograph
Autograph
An autograph is a document transcribed entirely in the handwriting of its author, as opposed to a typeset document or one written by an amanuensis or a copyist; the meaning overlaps with that of the word holograph.Autograph also refers to a person's artistic signature...
ed a ball for DiPaolo, and the two had a photo taken together. DiPaolo had decided to uncover his secret about being HIV positive.
DiPaolo could not possibly imagine what kinds of problems the photo would bring him when it was published by a newspaper the next day: He was met with disdain by many of his schoolmates and their parents. Parents protested because they did not want DiPaolo to attend school with their children, and family friends turned their backs on the DiPaolo family, on the belief that by befriending the DiPaolo's, they had put their own lives at risk. Eventually, many of those that initially abandoned the family returned to be friends with the DiPaolos.
Joey DiPaolo faced crowds of protesters in front of his school for a period after he voluntarily took the step of disclosing his disease. A long, legal battle ensued between the DiPaolo family and parents of children of the school that DiPaolo went to. The parents were afraid that their kids could catch AIDS by being in contact with Joey, and they wanted Joey out of the school. At one point, Joey's father planned to move to New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, where, he figured, Joey would be accepted to a new school.
Eventually, a New York court decided that Joey DiPaolo would stay in the educational center he attended.
The DiPaolo case made headlines internationally, and it was covered by different types of media, such as multiple television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
channels and newspapers. In 1992, HBO aired the "Lifestories: Families in Crisis
Lifestories: Families in Crisis
Lifestories: Families in Crisis is an American drama television series that premiered on HBO on August 1, 1992.-The show:Lifestories: Families in Crisis deals with major issues involving individuals, mostly teenagers and young adults. The stories usually ended with the real person on which the...
" special "Blood Brothers: The Joey DiPaolo Story".
Later on, DiPaolo established a lawsuit
Lawsuit
A lawsuit or "suit in law" is a civil action brought in a court of law in which a plaintiff, a party who claims to have incurred loss as a result of a defendant's actions, demands a legal or equitable remedy. The defendant is required to respond to the plaintiff's complaint...
against the center from which the blood
Blood
Blood is a specialized bodily fluid in animals that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells....
with which he was contaminated came from. He won the lawsuit.
Joey DiPaolo is currently an AIDS activist who meets and talks with many other AIDS patients yearly. He currently attends Fordam Prep.