Ryan White was born in 1971 in Kokomo, Indiana. He received an AIDS diagnosis in 1984, the result of contaminated infusions of an experimental factor VIII (FVIII) drug used to treat his hemophilia A. As his health worsened, Ryan was hospitalized, and a biopsy confirmed he had Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, a rare illness associated with AIDS. Doctors told him he had only three to six months to live, but he surpassed that prognosis, living for another five and a half years.

At just 13 years old, enduring bullying, Ryan addressed the fears and misconceptions surrounding AIDS, becoming a notable advocate for awareness. Through education, he helped alter the stigma surrounding the disease, which had long been incorrectly labeled as a "gay virus."

Panic about the possibility of AIDS transmission through casual contact led to his ban from school. He fought for his right to return and won, but was barred from physical education classes and had to use separate restrooms and drinking fountains.

Ryan…