Monty lived with HIV for 15 long, trying years. One month he was fully mobile and active, the next, he was bedridden and miserable. Because he had HIV so long, his physicians had to continually change his medications to prolong their effectiveness; the new drugs often had negative side effects and made him ill.

The disease caused neuropathy which made Monty lose feeling in his feet, forcing him to use a cane, walker, or even a wheelchair at his weakest moments. It was one trial after the next, but he pushed on.