Dab Garner

Up Close & Personal with Dab

My name is Dab Garner and I was one of the first Americans to be diagnosed with HIV when it was called GRID (Gay Related Immune Deficiency). I was diagnosed on 2/14/82 with PCP and GRID which makes me a long term survivor of HIV and AIDS. I am now a 30 year survivor/activist/speaker/blogger and creator of Dab the AIDS Bear.

 After being diagnosed while in quarantine at San Francisco General Hospital, I was told I would not live to see my 20th birthday which was only six weeks away. I had already lost my first partner and best friends to complications from GRID. They were the reason I started giving teddy bears to those in quarantine starting in 1981. It broke my heart to have to watch friends and my partner die without being able to hold them so I gave them teddy bears to let them know someone cared, loved them and was thinking about them. The bears eventually were given the name Dab the AIDS Bears in 1985.

After I was released from quarantine, I became an activist because no one was talking about GRID. Over the years, I helped other people with HIV set up the first AIDS services organizations, ACT Up and other services. In the late 80s, I was one of the activists to testify at Congress and work with Senator Kennedy to get funding for people with HIV/AIDS which ended up being called Ryan White funding.

During the 80s and 90s, I participated in clinical trial studies, continued my activism work, started speaking around the country and was god-father to one of the first children born with HIV in San Francisco. In 1985, her mother had died shortly after childbirth and they did not know who the father was. Candace was also born deformed because of Alcohol Fetal Syndrome. As you can imagine, no one wanted a child with HIV in the mid 80s much less a deformed child with HIV. So my second partner (who was also positive) and I took her home to take care of her and let her know she was loved. Unfortunately, she died from complications due to AIDS in 1989. My partner died a few weeks later. In Candace's memory, I started doing Christmas parties for kids with HIV and AIDS which eventually were called Teddy Bear Touchdowns. This year is the 22nd anniversary of the Teddy Bear Touchdowns with the event now being world wide in 12 countries.

I started Dab the AIDS Bear Project in 2003 because of ADAP waiting lists starting in the United States and someone I knew died in Kentucky on their ADAP waiting list. Having lost over 10,000 friends before life saving anti-HIV meds became available in 1996, it upset and enraged me that any Americans was denied access to life saving anti-HIV meds.

The adventures of Dab the AIDS Bear and myself have been covered by many publications, television shows and multi-media over the past 30 years including POZ Magazine, A & U magazine, Soap Opera Digest, AARP Magazine, POZIAM Radio, Who's Positive Radio, USA Today, 60 Minutes, CNN Headline News, CNN Newsroom, The Body, HIV Plus Magazine, The Miami Herald, The LA Times and many others. We are at over 100 events a year including AIDS Walks, Rides, Conferences, LGBT Prides, health fairs and other events.

I am participating in Real Stories, Real People because as a long term survivor of HIV/AIDS and activist for our community, I would like to help end stigma, inspire those who are infected with HIV and continue my HIV/AIDS awareness, education and prevention to those who are not infected. For more information on Dab the AIDS Bear Project, I invite you to visit: http://www.dabtheaidsbearproject.com.

Big Bear Hug,

Daddy Dab

A Day in the Life of My Body

Now my story will probably be different from those of others with HIV/AIDS because of my being a 30 year survivor. Over the years, I have had 2 cases of PCP, 3 cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a heart attack and a stroke. Because of living with HIV for 3 decades and these other complications, there is a big impact of my body.

 When I first wake up in the morning, I have the overnight side effects from Norvir including stomach problems. My speech is a little slurred, my coherence is a little slow and the neuropathy makes it hard to get moving right away. Some nights the Truvada causes very vivid dreams where I almost feel like I haven't slept at all.

I usually start my day with a protein shake and taking the dogs for a walk when I am in town. If I am out of town and doing events with Dab the AIDS Bear I start with a protein bar and a diet soda. After I am able to function normally, my day varies due to what is on the schedule such as meetings, conference calls and appearances with the bear at events.

I eat something every 4 hours because of chronic HIV wasting. Since my body can not store fat, I also work out 6 days a week to keep as much muscle on my body as possible. It is a constant struggle to keep my weight where I would like it to be which is around 185. I have to eat around 4,000 calories a day to keep my weight at that level. Any lower on my caloric intake and I start losing weight.

I take my morning medications for blood pressure, heart problems, wasting and vitamins at 10am every day. Luckily, there are almost no substantial side effects from those medications. After I have my second meal for the day around noon, I try to get my workout done. I do each muscle group twice a week to maximize muscle retention and prevent weight loss. I do another protein shake after my workout. Then depending on how my energy levels are doing that day, I might take a nap or try to get errands or other work done.

In the evening, I have another small meal around 6pm. For my evening meal, I usually only consume protein and veggies with little to no carbs. Then if I am in town, I take the dogs for a walk before sitting down to work on the project website, answer message and emails. I have another protein shake around 8:30 - 9pm then a snack at 10pm when I take my anti-HIV medications (Norvir, Reyataz and Truvada) and other medications. By 10pm, my energy is usually dragging and unless I have a fund raiser or special event late night, I am sound asleep by 11pm.

So while living with HIV/AIDS is possible because of today's anti-HIV and other medications, the virus does take a toll on the body. But I would rather still be here after living with HIV for 30 years than not be around at all.

Wishing you health, hope and happiness!

big bear hug,

 Dab and Dab the AIDS Bear