The Ancient Greeks told the tale of the Phoenix.
A bird that falls and then is reborn from its ashes to rise again.

Michael is a Phoenix. A child of alcoholic parents, preyed upon as a child, and unsurprisingly using drugs and alcohol by the age of 12. A childhood so traumatic that he was taken away from his parents and given to his uncle at the age of 14. An uncle who molested him on the very first night. Drugs, alcohol, sexual abuse and betrayed by those that should have been there to love and protect him. A surreal life, a hell.

Rescued from his uncle by his sister, he jumped from one hell to another. By the age of 18, Michael was arrested and sentenced to six months in jail for burglary where the physical and sexual abuse continued. At age 19 and on his own, there followed six years of discovering he was gay in the what was the wild scene of San Francisco.

Then, in 1980, Michael found love and an escape from San Francisco to Sonoma. The ashes of a life, an opportunity to rise. A job with the Sebastiani Vineyards followed by a job with the Record Depot and Video, making friends and living in an environment where it was acceptable to be gay. Michael helped develop a program supporting at-risk high school students that still exists today.
In 1989 his relationship ended and Michael moved back to San Francisco. It was during this time that he believes he contracted HIV. In the 80’s a diagnosis of HIV was quite simply a death sentence. Today we speak of living with HIV. Over 700,000 Americans have died from AIDS and in a single year Michael lost over 30 friends.

The 1990’s became a time of a life that spiraled downward once again, but before a Phoenix rises it must fall. By the beginning of the new century, Michael had a serious crystal meth addiction and was sentenced to a drug diversion program or go to prison. A sentence that coincided with a diagnosis of anal cancer in 2002. AIDS, a diagnosis of terminal cancer, addiction and abuse. Michael’s T-cell count was so low that his doctors weren’t sure he’d survive chemo and radiation. While in the hospital, Michael pleaded that should he survive he would devote his life to helping others. Fighting AIDS, cancer, and addiction, Michael found the necessary medical care and was nursed back to health by his sister over the following two years.

Michael has done more than survive, he has thrived. Today Michael is counted among the ranks of long-term survivors and has witnessed the transition of HIV from being a death sentence to people living with HIV and having the opportunity to have health, success and love. Michael credits his longevity to the advance of HIV medications and the wonderful treatment he received during his battle with cancer. Those of us who know Michael attribute his life both to medicine and to his will and attitude. An attitude that is characterized by warmth, boundless energy and a spirit of giving.

At Sunburst Projects, we have been fortunate enough to add Michael to the Sunburst family as a Medical Case Manager. Michael is known for his cheerful demeanor, his engaging personality and his strength. Michael is an expert in the HIV community, and worked at CARES/One Community Health for 14 years – most recently as a Medical Case Manager, and has even testified about HIV/AIDS on Capitol Hill. Clients seek him out and are willing to share their pain and their struggles as Michael assists them to recover and flourish.

Sunburst Projects exists to support women, men, children and young adults impacted by HIV/AIDS and to provide the resources to rise from the ashes of what for many is a devastating diagnosis. To do so we need your help. It is the financial support provided by our community that allows us to support the social and medical needs of those living with HIV/AIDS to be successful and thrive. Now 65 years old, Michael is the example of a life driven to ashes only to rise again through the recognition that giving to others is the very greatest gift.