More than 20 years after NBA legend Earvin 'Magic' Johnson told the world he was diagnosed with HIV,his wife Cookie reveals how the 'traumatic' news terrified not only for her own health but for that of her unborn baby.
'The scariest part for me was not knowing if I had it,' she said Wednesday at an awards dinner for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.
'Then that week I found out I was pregnant, so I didn't know if my baby had it...back then you had to wait at least 10 days to find out what your results were, so that was traumatic.'
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Both Cookie and her child, Earvin III, tested negative.
Johnson revealed that he had contracted HIV in 1991.
At the time he was one of basketball's brightest stars after winning a 1979 NCAA champion at Michigan State along with five NBA championships, as well as being named the league's Most Valuable Player three times and the NBA Finals MVP three times.
The announcement shocked the world with the announcement and sportswriters almost immediately began composing his obituary.
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Then there were few treatments available, and those that could be tried were extremely expensive.
Yet more than 20 years on, Johnson remains healthy as treatments have become simpler, cheaper, and more effective.
'The earlier you find out and get medication, you can live a long healthy life,' Cookie said, according to the New York Post.
Johnson told reporters he now treats his HIV with three pills, twice a day, though doctors have asked him not to publicly name the drugs to keep people from self-medicating.
'They are affordable and available for everyone,' he told the Los Angeles Times. 'But just because it’s my mix doesn’t mean it’s your mix.'
Johnson retired after announcing that he had HIV, but attempted a comeback in 1992 that was cut short after fears from other players forced him to abandon it.
That same year the NBA established several protective measures to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS, including the rule that any player who is cut must leave the game and are not allowed to return unless the bleeding has stopped.
Johnson attempted one more comeback in 1996 before finally retiring for good.
His announcement is viewed by some as a turning point in how Americans viewed a virus which some said was only a 'gay disease.'
'Sometimes you’re a little naïve about it and think it could never happen to you,' Johnson said. 'I think sometimes we think only gay people can get it or ‘It’s not gonna happen to me’, and here I am saying it can happen to me. Even me, Magic Johnson, it can happen
'The scariest part for me was not knowing if I had it,' she said Wednesday at an awards dinner for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.
'Then that week I found out I was pregnant, so I didn't know if my baby had it...back then you had to wait at least 10 days to find out what your results were, so that was traumatic.'
Scroll down for video
Johnson's wife Cookie said she was terrified to discover her husband had HIV as she waited to learn if she or her unborn son were also infected
Both Cookie and son Earvin III are HIV-free
Johnson revealed that he had contracted HIV in 1991.
At the time he was one of basketball's brightest stars after winning a 1979 NCAA champion at Michigan State along with five NBA championships, as well as being named the league's Most Valuable Player three times and the NBA Finals MVP three times.
The announcement shocked the world with the announcement and sportswriters almost immediately began composing his obituary.
More
Then there were few treatments available, and those that could be tried were extremely expensive.
Yet more than 20 years on, Johnson remains healthy as treatments have become simpler, cheaper, and more effective.
Magic Johnson was a legend in his prime, as a five-time NBA champion and three-time MVP
Johnson told reporters he now treats his HIV with three pills, twice a day, though doctors have asked him not to publicly name the drugs to keep people from self-medicating.
'They are affordable and available for everyone,' he told the Los Angeles Times. 'But just because it’s my mix doesn’t mean it’s your mix.'
Johnson retired after announcing that he had HIV, but attempted a comeback in 1992 that was cut short after fears from other players forced him to abandon it.
Johnson's 1991 announcement that he had been diagnosed with HIV and was retiring from basketball shocked not only the sporting world but America
Since his reveal Johnson has become an advocate for safe sex and medical research
Johnson attempted one more comeback in 1996 before finally retiring for good.
His announcement is viewed by some as a turning point in how Americans viewed a virus which some said was only a 'gay disease.'
'Sometimes you’re a little naïve about it and think it could never happen to you,' Johnson said. 'I think sometimes we think only gay people can get it or ‘It’s not gonna happen to me’, and here I am saying it can happen to me. Even me, Magic Johnson, it can happen
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