Shawn Decker
Encyclopedia
Shawn Decker was born in Waynesboro, Virginia
on July 16, 1975. He was diagnosed with HIV
at age 11, through the use of tainted blood products used to treat hemophilia, a bleeding disorder that he was born with. In 1996, he posted a web site called "My Pet Virus", writing humorous articles about himself and blogging about life with HIV. He befriended fellow "poz blogger" Steve Schalchlin
, as well as POZ magazine
, who turned his blog
into a regular column the following year, called "Positoid", a word that Decker made up to describe himself as someone living with HIV
.
His memoir, My Pet Virus, The True Story of a Rebel Without a Cure was published in 2006.
Waynesboro, Virginia
Waynesboro, deriving its name from General Anthony Wayne, is an independent city surrounded by Augusta County in the U.S. state of Virginia. The population was 21,006 in 2010.....
on July 16, 1975. He was diagnosed with 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...
at age 11, through the use of tainted blood products used to treat hemophilia, a bleeding disorder that he was born with. In 1996, he posted a web site called "My Pet Virus", writing humorous articles about himself and blogging about life with HIV. He befriended fellow "poz blogger" Steve Schalchlin
Steve Schalchlin
Steve Schalchlin is an American songwriter, actor and musician. He is widely regarded as one of the first HIV/AIDS bloggers, beginning his in 1996 to keep family and friends updated on his failing health. When he responded well to a last ditch effort in treatment by his doctor, he found out that...
, as well as POZ magazine
POZ (magazine)
POZ is a monthly magazine that chronicles the lives of people affected by HIV/AIDS. Its website, Poz.com, has daily HIV/AIDS news, treatment information, forums, blogs and personals....
, who turned his blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
into a regular column the following year, called "Positoid", a word that Decker made up to describe himself as someone living with HIV
HIV positive people
HIV-positive people are people who have the human immunodeficiency virus HIV, the agent of the currently incurable disease AIDS.Over the years of coping with the stigma and discrimination that accompany the diagnosis in most societies, a large number of support groups have been formed...
.
His memoir, My Pet Virus, The True Story of a Rebel Without a Cure was published in 2006.