When Tyrone Lopez went to the hospital in May 2003 with Pneumocystis carinii Pneumonia, he didn't know he was at a turning point in his life.
PCP Pneumonia is most easily contracted in people with HIV, so Lopez was not surprised when doctors had him undergo blood tests.
But Lopez was shocked when the results were returned.
"I was in the hospital for about three weeks," Lopez said. "They did just about any test that they could think of, and when they did the HIV test, it came back positive."
Lopez is a member of the Tohono O'odham Nation, an American Indian community in south central Arizona. Since his diagnosis, he has worked to educate his community about HIV and AIDS.
Today, he will share his story with ASU students in conjunction with ASU AIDS Awareness week. Events will begin with a panel discussion, "Living with HIV/AIDS."
Lopez will be a part of this panel, and he said that his message will be that HIV and AIDS are not limited to certain groups.
"Anybody can get this disease," Lopez said. "It doesn't make a difference who you are, what you are or where you come from. This disease is still here, and people are still not getting tested, and if you don't know your status, you're taking a big risk."
Lopez will be joined by other speakers, including a college student who was born HIV positive and a woman whose son was born with HIV.
"We are trying to see the many faces of HIV and AIDS," said Freddie Roman, assistant director for Wellness and Health Promotion. "It's a diverse group of people telling their own stories from different perspectives, different experiences."
Wednesday's theme focuses on women.
Lorraine Brown, family advocate for Maricopa Integrated Health System, works with women and children with HIV.
In cases such as rape and child molestation, many do not think about the possibility of getting tested for diseases, Brown said.
"Because it's already a devastating act, no one thinks, 'Could I be HIV positive? Could I have an STD?'" Brown said. "A lot of times, they are not screened for [HIV], especially here in the state of Arizona."
Graduate student Damien Salamone said that HIV education is important both within and outside Arizona.
On Friday, he will share his experiences as an HIV/AIDS educator in east Africa.
"I want to create the possibility of a new kind of life for students," Salamone said. "I want to create the possibility that they could travel to these distant countries and make a difference in these peoples' lives."
While Salamone and other speakers are ASU students, this week's events will also rely on community members to reach the students.
Lopez said his hope is that students will get tested, get educated and remember that the faces of HIV and AIDS are diverse.
"There will always be someone there with a new story to tell," he said.
Reach the reporter at: stephanie.naufel@asu.edu.
