* * *
“Bill…. Hi, honey…. I miss you, too…. We got out early today. The judge had some kind of family emergency…. It’s Thursday. I knew you wouldn’t be in your office…. How are the kids?... Oh, Bill, I’m really happy I did this. Thanks so much for helping to make it happen…. It’s more than I expected, already…. I know it’s just my first day, but the testimony has been – I don’t even know the right word – earthshaking, staggering, powerful…. Well, let’s just say that the expert witness for the defense today was very believable, and shattered a lot of the myths we’ve been told for a long time about the HIV tests…. Gwen’s fine, but I haven’t seen a lot of her yet. I got in fairly late last night and we both had to leave early this morning…. It’s a nice house right on Lake Bowen. I’m on my way there now…. I want to finish unpacking and then do some research on the Internet. I have some questions from reading the transcripts of the opening statements, and from this morning’s testimony…. Did Peyton get to her dance class yesterday?... And how about Grayson’s soccer game today?... Okay, I’ll relax and focus. I love you, honey…. Talk to you tomorrow…. Kiss the kids for me….”
Gwen is still at the college when Sarah gets to the house. She puts the rest of her things away, helps herself to a glass of wine, and sits down at the computer. She reads through the notes she took on the plane and in court, spends a couple hours on various websites, and then writes:
The FDA has never approved a test for the diagnosis of HIV infection – TRUE!
All HIV ELISA tests are tests for HIV antibodies, and not HIV itself – TRUE!
All HIV ELISA tests come with printed disclaimers that say there is no recognized standard for establishing the presence or absence of HIV antibodies – TRUE!
The proteins used in the HIV ELISA tests are not specific or unique for HIV – TRUE!
Another hour later and she also has everything she needs on the defendant from stories printed in the local paper:
Tyree Johnson
~ born October 25, 1980 in Easley, South Carolina
~ One of four children and oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Johnson
~ graduated Easley High School, May 24, 1999
~ lettered in football (wide receiver) and baseball (first base)
~ attended Greenville Technical College for two years
~ worked nights as security guard at Michelin headquarters, Greenville
~ transferred to Furman University effective August 24, 2001 as a sophomore on partial athletic scholarship (baseball)
~ signed by a sports agent for professional baseball
~ took HIV test as part of paperwork preparation for pro contract in 2003
~ was diagnosed HIV-Positive on HIV test
~ dismissed by agent and rejected for pro sports
~ met Beth Ann Brooks in his senior year, her freshman year
~ dated for approximately three months, then he broke it off. Beth Ann Brooks devastated by breakup, by all reports, and got sick soon thereafter
~ graduated May 19, 2005 from Furman with B.S. in Health and Exercise Science
Are You Positive? Page 7