Joey contracted AIDS from a blood transfusion when he was four years
old. He was born in Staten Island, New York and attended Tottenville
High School. Joey lived with the disease almost all his life. Parents
did not want their children to attend classes with him and Joey's
mother fought hard to keep him in the classes he was already in. At a
young age, Joey would speak about the disease and what it was like to
live with AIDS. Joey also met former New York Giant star Lawrence
Taylor. Joey is still alive and continues to speak to children as well
as adults on live with AIDS.