In 1996, Malone tested positive for HIV. A second, confirmation test came back negative -- but somehow, nobody ever told him the good news. Believing that he had HIV, Malone developed the symptoms of the disease. He knew what to expect, since he'd cared for two lovers who had died from it. Just like someone with AIDS, he had severe digestive problems and diarrhea. He began to waste away. Convinced he was going to die, he isolated himself.
In August 2004, a new computer system flagged the mismatch in his medical records, and a follow-up HIV test revealed he did not have the virus after all. Malone was stunned, then jubilant -- then angry. He says he's making up for lost time -- and has also filed a legal claim against his health-care providers.
Malone now talks about his ordeal with matter-of-fact humor -- glad to be alive, and newly appreciative of the power of mind over matter.
"I had the symptoms. Some of the problems I had were exactly like the problems that they [his HIV-positive lovers] had had. The loss of appetite and the other things were exactly the same. If you keep having someone telling you that you have cancer, or a brain tumor, and they tell you enough times, you start believing it.
