Timothy Ray Brown, the so-called “Berlin patient” and the first person to recover from HIV infection, has died at the age of 54.
It was recently revealed that he was temporarily ill from a recurrence of leukemia last year. News of his death was announced on Facebook by his partner, Tim Hoe Fag, who called Brown his “angel” and said he was surrounded by friends when he died Tuesday afternoon in Palm Springs, California.
“I am really blessed that we have shared life together, but I am heartbroken that my hero is gone now. Tim was truly the sweetest person in the world, “Hagen wrote to Fag. “Tim’s spirit will live on and the love and support of family and friends will help me through this most difficult time.
“Celebrate Tim’s life and always hope,” he continued. “You are now my angel. I love you forever Tim! ”
Brown, who was diagnosed with HIV in the 1990s, was diagnosed with leukemia in 2006 while working in Berlin. In 2007 and 2008, they received stem cell transplants from another patient, which resulted in the release of leukemia and a negative test for HIV. He tested negative for the virus that causes AIDS ever since.
“Timothy has proven that HIV can be cured, but it doesn’t inspire me,” Dr. Steven Dix, an AIDS specialist at the University of California, San Francisco, told the Associated Press about his significant condition. “We took pieces of his intestines, we took pieces of his lymph nodes. Every time he was asked to do something, he showed amazing grace. ”
Brown said that even though his leukemia had returned, he was “still happy” that he had treated stem cells, saying they “opened doors that weren’t there before.”
The International AIDS Society (IAS), an organization of HIV professionals, acknowledged his passing
On his website and Twitter, he said, “It is with a heavy heart that IAS Timothy bids farewell to Ray Brown “and” Scientists say H.I. Vino is thankful for opening the door to exploring the concept that there is a cure. Possible. “
Baltimore blogger Mark King, who writes about HIV, recently met with Brown and Brown Fagan, who expressed sadness at the loss of their spouse.
“The hardest part is watching Timothy go downhill,” Hagg told King in the story for The Los Angeles Blade. “He is a person you cannot lovingly help. It is very sweet. Cancer treatment is getting rough. Sometimes I wonder if it is worse than this disease. “
Hoe Fagen also told him that researchers wanted to “leave Brown’s body in science” after his death, but he refused. “I said, ‘Thank you, but no. I think he has done enough, “Hoe replied to Fag.
King also acknowledged Brown’s contribution to AIDS research.
“It’s unclear how much value it has for the world as a subject of science,” he said. “And yet this is also a human being who is a kind, humble person who never asked for a spotlight.
“I think his world.”
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