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HIV Long Term Survivor —
40th Anniversary of Being Told I Had Six Months to Live
Bradford McIntyre, HIV Long Term Survivor,
living with HIV since 1984.
40 Years of Courage, Resilience, and Positive Living
by Bradford McIntyre,
November 28, 2025 | Vancouver, BC, Canada
Forty years ago, on November 28, 1985, I was told I had six months to live. The words were delivered with clinical certainty, spoken softly but carrying the weight of finality. I had learned I was living with HIV the year before, in 1984. In the early years, an HIV diagnosis was widely considered a death sentence. HIV was largely misunderstood, treatments were limited, and fear often overshadowed hope. The world did not yet understand HIV, and those of us living with it were confronting fear, stigma, and medical uncertainty in equal measure.
But today, I stand here marking the 40th anniversary of outliving that prognosis, celebrating decades of life, purpose, and advocacy.
A Global Perspective on HIV
Since the beginning of the epidemic:
- 91.4 million people worldwide have been infected with HIV.
- 44.1 million people have died.
- 40.8 million people were living with HIV at the end of 2024.
These numbers are more than statistics—they are human lives, full of struggle, courage, and resilience. My story is only one among millions, but it represents the potential for survival, hope, and positive living despite a serious diagnosis.
From Diagnosis to Advocacy
Following my diagnosis, I became an advocate—not out of ambition, but out of necessity. Over the years, I have:
- Appeared on national television and radio, in newspapers, magazines, and documentaries
- Participated in national and international speaking engagements
- Served on multiple AIDS Service Organization Boards of Directors
- Participant in HIV and AIDS Compaigns worldwide
- Created an internationally recognized website, “Bradford McIntyre: Positively Positive Living With HIV/AIDS” (www.PositivelyPositive.ca), Designed to create HIV and AIDs awareness.
- Contributed to research papers, and participated in studies, and clinical trials to improve treatment and care
Service from the Beginning
My commitment to supporting people living with HIV began as early as 1981, before my own diagnosis. I cared for friends and community members in hospital, during illness, and in their final moments. Since 1994, I have volunteered my time to HIV and AIDS events and causes whenever possible, offering support, advocacy, and hope.
Recognition for Dedication
My volunteerism and advocacy have been acknowledged through:
- Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012) for excellence in HIV/AIDS advocacy in Canada
- Pride Legacy Award (2013) for Sexual Health & HIV/AIDS Awareness
These honors are reminders that the work matters and that a single life of advocacy can have ripple effects in communities worldwide.
What Forty Years and Global Data Teach Us
- Medical data are powerful: they remind us of the scale of disease, but also of survival and resilience.
- Behind every number is a human life — each with hopes, fears, relationships, and stories.
- Survival is not simply about defying a prognosis. It’s about living meaningfully after one.
- For every person diagnosed today, there is a global community: some who have died, many who live on — and many who may yet find ways to survive and thrive.
- Time doesn’t erase the pain, but it can change its shape: from crisis to endurance; from fear to gratitude; from death sentence to life sentence.
A Celebration of Life — and of Hope
On this fortieth anniversary, I do more than celebrate my own survival. I celebrate all those living with HIV — the 40.8 million worldwide whose lives continue in the face of uncertainty. I remember those 44.1 million no longer with us. I honor the millions who still fight, hope, and persevere.
I was given six months. I made them forty years. And with every year, every breath, I carry not only my own gratitude — but respect for the global community of which I am part.
Because surviving was never just about me.
Why This Anniversary Matters
This milestone is not just about survival—it is about purpose.
I was told I had six months.
Instead, I was given a lifetime of service.
A mission.
A community.
A voice.
I continue to live, advocate, educate, and share my story because every person living with HIV deserves dignity, support, and the chance to thrive.
Forty years later, I am still here.
Still speaking.
Still supporting.
Still positively positive.
Forty Years of Living Positively
Living decades beyond a six-month prognosis has taught me about resilience, gratitude, and the importance of community. I have witnessed remarkable medical progress, shifting public perceptions, and the enduring courage of people living with HIV around the world.
I was given six months. Instead, I was given a lifetime of purpose: to advocate, educate, serve, and live fully.
Today, I continue to embrace life, and to share my story as part of a broader mission: helping people living with HIV thrive with dignity, hope, and positivity.
Author Bio
HIV positive Canadian Bradford McIntyre promotes HIV and AIDS awareness
and messages of positive living with HIV.
–Advocate – Writer – Speaker – Volunteer – Researcher –
Founder: Bradford McIntyre Positively Positive Living with HIV/AIDS
(www.PositivelyPositive.ca)
DESIGNED TO CREATE HIV and AIDS AWARENESS
Bradford McIntyre is a long-time HIV survivor, diagnosed in 1984, and an internationally recognized advocate for people living with HIV. On World AIDS Day, December 1, 1994, Bradford publicly disclosed his HIV status on national TV, on The Dini Petty Show, becoming a visible and compassionate voice in the global HIV community. Over the past three decades, he has appeared on national television and radio, in numerous newspaper and magazine interviews, documentaries, and national and international speaking engagements. Bradford has also contributed to a number of research papers and studies, as well as participated in clinical trials aimed at improving HIV treatment and the quality of life for those living with the virus.
Bradford has served on the Boards of Directors of several prominent AIDS Service Organizations, including the Snowy Owl AIDS Foundation (Ottawa), the Face Forward Foundation (Toronto), and AIDS Vancouver. Since 1994, whenever possible, Bradford has volunteered his time and energy to participate in HIV and AIDS causes and events. Bradford's global impact is shown through his comprehensive, informative website, Bradford McIntyre Positively Positive Living with HIV/AIDS (www.PositivelyPositive.ca), which is a widely recognized resource designed to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS issues and promote messages of positive living.
Contact
Bradford McInytre
www.PositivelyPositive.ca
Designed to Create HIV/AIDS Awareness
604-688-7702
bradford@positivelypositive.ca
Vancouver BC, Canada
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