Sad that people were treated so bad. My cousin was one of them. He came to visit and our Aunt and Uncle would not touch him or let him in their house. I let him hold my newborn son. I knew it would be ok. This was 34 years ago. He came to say goodbye. He passed about a year later. Other family members treated him bad too. Broke my heart!💜. He was a kind and sweet man. Would have never hurt a soul.
I remember this story i was a young wife and mother. I watched that episode of Oprah and was appalled by the people who condemned Mike. John and I knew a person who had contracted AIDS also, so we knew more about AIDS than the average person. I’m pray he found peace in his short life. I’m also glad that people learned from his story.
Thank you for sharing this story. I'd never heard of this story. It reminded me of the story of Ryan White, the young teenager in Kokomo, Indiana who contracted AIDS from a blood transfusion in the 1980's and died in 1991 at the age of 18. People treated Ryan much like they did Mike. If you like to read, I'd highly recommend the book "Ryan White: My Own Story." People were terrified of AIDS at that time. They weren't sure how it was spread or contracted. As a result, they were downright cruel to those who had the disease. Hopefully society has learned thanks to the efforts of Mike and Ryan. Thanks again for sharing this story. And rest in peace, Mike.
Back years ago they made the Ryan White movie I think it was in like public TV. Or maybe cable and that is one name I'll never forget either because of how he was treated it broke my heart
Thank you for uploading this tragic story. There's nothing uglier or more destructive than human ignorance. I hope he always knows peace. Best wishes from the UK 🙏🇬🇧❤️
Great Video Leo , I remember Mike’s story so sad how people treated him & family God loves Everyone! Thank you for going to Mike’s grave site so I could say a prayer for him & Family So sorry the way people treated him!
The anguish in his eyes tore at my heart. That poor man. The feeling of being rejected is all consuming. AIDS hits a very sensitive emotional spot for me. I was given up for adoption and when I found my birth mother in the early 90’s she was battling full blown AIDS. I had seven years to get to know her even though I lived on the east coast and she lived in Dallas. Her boyfriend had been unfaithful to her and contracted the disease and then spread it to her. I was in the hospital room when she breathed her last breath. It still makes me choke up. AIDS had such a stigma back then. The prejudice and hate was unbelievable. I’m glad that medicine and treatment has evolved and improved. I’m sad that my mom and Mike didn’t get to see this happen.
You all done a superb job on this.Everthing from tone to video shots, editing was great too! Clips of Oprah at right times, music superior.Very touching.love this channel
What a brave young man. I can’t imagine facing certain death and having the fortitude to face those weak people who use their religion to try to justify hate. Thanks you guys.
Thank you. I am a native West Virginian and still live here. I can't recall this story. Hurts my heart that this young man had to endure this. I am subscribed to your channel because it is so respectfully executed and your voice is so gentle and kind. You have very interesting topics. I wish I could find something interesting in Barker Cemetery in Nellis, WV. My entire family is buried there. Such a beautiful, peaceful place. Keep doing what you're doing because you do it well. ❤
Oh my Heart, I was Furious 😡 listening to those people, why would anyone want to hurt anyone with such hateful n Ignorant words , they should be ashamed of themselves , I cried from start to finish 💔😢Thank you Leo n Heather for bringing us that story , we can learn a lot from People like Mike, God bless his❤ , I love yo guys n you're channel , God bless you both
Thank you and God bless you for covering this story. I remember when this story came out on Oprah. Love your videos and so proud of you both for this video. Bless you both.
I remember watching this on the Oprah show. I felt sorry for Mike I couldn’t believe how cruel people were being! Thank you Leo and Heather we all need to be reminded of how we need to treat each other. With Love!
Leo I am like u i dont judge people i have known a few people who contacted aids and yes some were my friends i could tell at the end of this video u were choked up about how someone could even judge another person without getting 2 know them you and Heather do so much to show people that everyone is God's children God bless you
My wife's cousin died with aids. It was in the 80s maybe early 90s. They told the family that they would have too cremate her. It was very sad. Thank you Leo for this sad story. R.I.P Mike and Shirley 💐
I don't remember seeing this episode. I'll have to see if I can find the whole show on YT. But I do remember those days. In 85 I was pregnant with my second child and winded up in the hospital. I had to have a blood transfusion. I remember there was a scare at the time and people were just learning about all this. RIP Mike!!
I remember watching that story. People flipped when he went swimming. The education on HIV wasn't much in those days. People had no clue it was not something they could get from him being in a pool. I often wondered how things went.
If only people would not had eaten those infected monkeys in Africa that escaped from a laboratory. How do I know this , because my ex-husband is from Africa ( Morocco) I don’t know why people can’t be honest about how HIV all got started. It’s just like CoVid 19 man made in a laboratory. I’m just saying , my humble opinion. As for Orca I can NOT stand that detestable human, she makes money off peoples suffering !! Thank You Leo & Heather for sharing Mikes story. It’s so sad
Those were scary times. No one knew for sure, all the details about AIDS. There was alot of fear. As of 2018, about 700,000 people have died of HIV/AIDS in the United States since the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and nearly 13,000 people with AIDS in the United States die each year. With improved treatments and better prophylaxis against opportunistic infections, death rates have significantly declined.
People are cruel and have no feelings about hurting other people. He didn't bother them, he needed someone to care for him. Thank you Leo that was very sad. May he rest in peace and my those that were hateful learned from their actions. I have a cousin that was hurt many times he's now married to a beautiful woman
I didn't know Oprah came to WV or I forgot about this show. But as a nurse working, I remember the AIDS crisis. Micheal was one of so many who died. Then I do remember Micheal Jordan who test positive for the virus but didn't have AIDS Well presented Leo and this needs mentioning in the future so young people will know the stigma people went through with this health crisis. Thank you Leo and Heather
Great Video thanks for making it in the 90's I lost so many friend to ADIS and there where so much scuttle but about it ypu didnt know what is tue and what is not. Well now days people just dont talk about ADIS any more
i'm old enough to Remember and people were afraid of aids but i was never cruel to anyone that had the disease. People can be so cruel and its a shame that anyone is treated this way. its bad enough that they are dealing with the fact that they are dying but to be treated in such a way is awful.
That's a sad story, and is definitely Gods way to hate people and hurt them. All Mike wanted was to be person like any other. Very, very sad how he was treated. Thanks, Leo for a great video!
This was so unfair this was so wrong and I blame the government for not educating the public I put full blame on the ones in control for letting things get out of control so much that this poor man was treated so inhumane . It literally brought me to tears to hear the rage in those people who were irrate over this young man's disease and was most certainly not the blame. I'm sure he's at peace now with his mom and not being mistreated for a sickness he had. This is what happens when you throw a horrible disease out for the public to contract and only give no kind of true knowledge about how you get it and anything like that. Leaving the publics mind to go crazy and then you end up in this situation where a young man with a illness can't even cool off in a public pool without being done so bad he had to leave town in his time of no doubt devastation with life and being ill on top of the whole damn town turning on u .. you rest in peace now Mike, and your story will never be forgotten but that it helps us understand and gives us positive knowledge to never treat man or beast like you they treated. God bless your beautiful soul
Hello Mr.Leo I've been enjoying the history of our beautiful wonderful state of wva. Please travel north to Wheeling,wva Ohio county we have a lot of wonderful history id like for you to do on your channel if you would and could...Id greatly appreciate it hugs loves and many blessings from one MOUNTAINEER HILLBILLY TO ANOTHER ❤
It is sad to see the ignorance of ppl back then. Like the great Barack Obama once said, the good ol days were not so great. I’m so glad we live in a more accepting society today. But it doesn’t erase the evil of yesteryear. That’s why we can never go back. Love is love ❤️ 🌈
Glad you covered his story,I remember watching him on Oprah and I couldn't believe how awful people were to him. I was in my early teens and I remember I cried for him,he seemed like such a gentle kind person. I was raised in a christian home my dad a deacon and my mom in the choir but they would never have treated anyone like that. I was raised only God can judge and to treat others as you would have them treat you and his story was one of the first times I saw "Christian" people treat someone with such cruelty. Of course through the years I have seen it more and more and I still have a hard time with accepting how much hatred and cruelty there is in this world. After this I always said to my mom that maybe this is hell and we are reborn and have to repeat our time here until we get it right.. I hope his family knows that many of us were touched by his story and did care,and I hope he is a much better place❤
@@thehillbillyfiles Oprah is the poster child for racism and a queen racist herself. Ask most whites who worked for or had any dealings with her. Irrelevant to the content but just had to get that off my chest. Maybe she really did care but I'm sure her motive to air this was mostly about the money.
This Oprah episode has to be erased from TH-cam? It's bout as good a people watching as muddy gut holler and it's erased. On a side note being a neighbor of this area traveling thru there I have to ask how long did it take to build hwy 119 between Pikeville and belfry? Lol good God it had to take centuries?
@thehillbillyfiles lol yall do roads right over the border if you come my way on 460 from shorts gap virginia to Richlands virginia it has to be the curviest 55 mph 4 lane highway in the USA... it's fun driving it. Hopefully the new 460 will be completed soon past grundy so it's 4 lane all the way thru
Great story Leo. I remember those times so well. Yes its better now but there is still so much ignorance about this disease from people who aren't willing to open their hearts and their minds and educate themselves. RIP Mike
Thank you Leo! Wasn't expecting a story like this on your channel, but I'm glad you covered it.
It took place in my hometown, so seemed relevant to us anyway, Thank you
Sad that people were treated so bad. My cousin was one of them. He came to visit and our Aunt and Uncle would not touch him or let him in their house. I let him hold my newborn son. I knew it would be ok. This was 34 years ago. He came to say goodbye. He passed about a year later. Other family members treated him bad too.
Broke my heart!💜. He was a kind and sweet man. Would have never hurt a soul.
I remember this story i was a young wife and mother. I watched that episode of Oprah and was appalled by the people who condemned Mike. John and I knew a person who had contracted AIDS also, so we knew more about AIDS than the average person. I’m pray he found peace in his short life. I’m also glad that people learned from his story.
God Bless you for raising awareness, to Mike, and this story 🙏
Thank you for this story and raising awareness. I have several friends who are HIV positive and they’re able to live totally normal lives now. ❤
It was fear. People were afraid. They didn't understand. People are always afraid of what they don't understand.
Thank you for sharing this story. I'd never heard of this story. It reminded me of the story of Ryan White, the young teenager in Kokomo, Indiana who contracted AIDS from a blood transfusion in the 1980's and died in 1991 at the age of 18. People treated Ryan much like they did Mike. If you like to read, I'd highly recommend the book "Ryan White: My Own Story." People were terrified of AIDS at that time. They weren't sure how it was spread or contracted. As a result, they were downright cruel to those who had the disease. Hopefully society has learned thanks to the efforts of Mike and Ryan.
Thanks again for sharing this story. And rest in peace, Mike.
Hey Joe , thanks for the information, I'm vaguely familiar with Ryans story.
And the Ray Brothers from Florida.
@@thehillbillyfiles There's actually a movie about his story. I think it may be on Netflix or Prime. Can't remember which one I saw it listed.
Back years ago they made the Ryan White movie I think it was in like public TV. Or maybe cable and that is one name I'll never forget either because of how he was treated it broke my heart
Just like Covid IGNORANCE is scary 😢 Unfortunately we will go through this for the rest of time .
Thank you for uploading this tragic story.
There's nothing uglier or more destructive than human ignorance.
I hope he always knows peace.
Best wishes from the UK 🙏🇬🇧❤️
Great Video Leo , I remember Mike’s story so sad how people treated him & family God loves Everyone! Thank you for going to Mike’s grave site so I could say a prayer for him & Family So sorry the way people treated him!
The anguish in his eyes tore at my heart. That poor man. The feeling of being rejected is all consuming. AIDS hits a very sensitive emotional spot for me. I was given up for adoption and when I found my birth mother in the early 90’s she was battling full blown AIDS. I had seven years to get to know her even though I lived on the east coast and she lived in Dallas. Her boyfriend had been unfaithful to her and contracted the disease and then spread it to her. I was in the hospital room when she breathed her last breath. It still makes me choke up. AIDS had such a stigma back then. The prejudice and hate was unbelievable. I’m glad that medicine and treatment has evolved and improved. I’m sad that my mom and Mike didn’t get to see this happen.
There are people who never heard if this story but now they have. Thank you for sharing his story. Love from Indiana!
You all done a superb job on this.Everthing from tone to video shots, editing was great too! Clips of Oprah at right times, music superior.Very touching.love this channel
Glad you enjoyed it!
What a brave young man. I can’t imagine facing certain death and having the fortitude to face those weak people who use their religion to try to justify hate.
Thanks you guys.
Im amazed at the diversity of the stories that you teach us about.Great job at all you two do 👍👍😉 keep up the good work
It's a crying shame that people are so ignorant to treat a person like that rest in peace mike
Thank you. I am a native West Virginian and still live here. I can't recall this story. Hurts my heart that this young man had to endure this. I am subscribed to your channel because it is so respectfully executed and your voice is so gentle and kind. You have very interesting topics. I wish I could find something interesting in Barker Cemetery in Nellis, WV. My entire family is buried there. Such a beautiful, peaceful place. Keep doing what you're doing because you do it well. ❤
This story broke my heart not only for Mike but for all his family and friends....Prayers
Oh my Heart, I was Furious 😡 listening to those people, why would anyone want to hurt anyone with such hateful n Ignorant words , they should be ashamed of themselves , I cried from start to finish 💔😢Thank you Leo n Heather for bringing us that story , we can learn a lot from People like Mike, God bless his❤ , I love yo guys n you're channel , God bless you both
Thank you for covering this...I only hope to be remembered one day. 💚
Thank you and God bless you for covering this story. I remember when this story came out on Oprah. Love your videos and so proud of you both for this video. Bless you both.
Such a sad, sad story. I feel so bad for what Mike went through. I remember how people acted where I lived & it's a shame they acted like they did.
Heartbreaking. People are so cruel, and still that way today.
A very touching story yall. Thanks for sharing this Leo. Lord bless you and yourn brother.
I remember watching this on the Oprah show. I felt sorry for Mike I couldn’t believe how cruel people were being! Thank you Leo and Heather we all need to be reminded of how we need to treat each other. With Love!
My great grandmother was a Cisco (Sisco/Francisco) from Mingo County, West Virginia. I’m certain that this family are distant relatives.
RIP Mike. Know that God loves you no matter what!!! ❤❤❤
Leo I am like u i dont judge people i have known a few people who contacted aids and yes some were my friends i could tell at the end of this video u were choked up about how someone could even judge another person without getting 2 know them you and Heather do so much to show people that everyone is God's children God bless you
My wife's cousin died with aids. It was in the 80s maybe early 90s. They told the family that they would have too cremate her. It was very sad. Thank you Leo for this sad story. R.I.P Mike and Shirley 💐
I don't remember seeing this episode. I'll have to see if I can find the whole show on YT. But I do remember those days. In 85 I was pregnant with my second child and winded up in the hospital. I had to have a blood transfusion. I remember there was a scare at the time and people were just learning about all this. RIP Mike!!
God was with you Leo when those men were available at the cemetery to show you the location of one of his children Mike Sisco. Nice story Leo.
Thanks!
You are so good to us Suzy! We appreciate you more than you know ❤
I remember the re-run in the 90's that just floored me people treated him like that
I remember watching that story. People flipped when he went swimming. The education on HIV wasn't much in those days. People had no clue it was not something they could get from him being in a pool. I often wondered how things went.
Thank you
i remember this story. people back in the 80s treated people with hiv like it was the plague. amazing how far weve come.
Still no cure and still spreading
If only people would not had eaten those infected monkeys in Africa that escaped from a laboratory. How do I know this , because my ex-husband is from Africa ( Morocco) I don’t know why people can’t be honest about how HIV all got started. It’s just like CoVid 19 man made in a laboratory. I’m just saying , my humble opinion. As for Orca I can NOT stand that detestable human, she makes money off peoples suffering !! Thank You Leo & Heather for sharing Mikes story. It’s so sad
Ty and Heather for that
Those were scary times. No one knew for sure, all the details about AIDS. There was alot of fear.
As of 2018, about 700,000 people have died of HIV/AIDS in the United States since the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and nearly 13,000 people with AIDS in the United States die each year. With improved treatments and better prophylaxis against opportunistic infections, death rates have significantly declined.
People are cruel and have no feelings about hurting other people. He didn't bother them, he needed someone to care for him. Thank you Leo that was very sad. May he rest in peace and my those that were hateful learned from their actions. I have a cousin that was hurt many times he's now married to a beautiful woman
Hi Leo and Heather 👋 I like watching your videos 👍😎
Thanks so much
Wow, Leo! I remember this story like it was yesterday.
This was a great story. I remember see this as a kid, it was big talk in ironton ohio where i grew up.
I didn't know Oprah came to WV or I forgot about this show. But as a nurse working, I remember the AIDS crisis. Micheal was one of so many who died. Then I do remember Micheal Jordan who test positive for the virus but didn't have AIDS Well presented Leo and this needs mentioning in the future so young people will know the stigma people went through with this health crisis. Thank you Leo and Heather
Thank you Lauren, we appreciate it
Michael Jordan tested positive?
Don't you mean Magic Johnson?
@@rudolphlarry, yes! Magic is still alive and well with undetectable virus in his system.
Magic Johnson...not Michael Jordan. Many folks think that Magic doesn't really have AIDS or carried the virus.
Great Video thanks for making it in the 90's I lost so many friend to ADIS and there where so much scuttle but about it ypu didnt know what is tue and what is not. Well now days people just dont talk about ADIS any more
i'm old enough to Remember and people were afraid of aids but i was never cruel to anyone that had the disease. People can be so cruel and its a shame that anyone is treated this way. its bad enough that they are dealing with the fact that they are dying but to be treated in such a way is awful.
That's a sad story, and is definitely Gods way to hate people and hurt them. All Mike wanted was to be person like any other. Very, very sad how he was treated. Thanks, Leo for a great video!
That's so sad. ❤❤❤❤
What a brave young man. People need to remember that it’s not our place to judge but we will. God bless mike and his family..
Good story ,r.i.p Mike, ppl are small minded,but you sir, no way
This was so unfair this was so wrong and I blame the government for not educating the public I put full blame on the ones in control for letting things get out of control so much that this poor man was treated so inhumane . It literally brought me to tears to hear the rage in those people who were irrate over this young man's disease and was most certainly not the blame. I'm sure he's at peace now with his mom and not being mistreated for a sickness he had. This is what happens when you throw a horrible disease out for the public to contract and only give no kind of true knowledge about how you get it and anything like that. Leaving the publics mind to go crazy and then you end up in this situation where a young man with a illness can't even cool off in a public pool without being done so bad he had to leave town in his time of no doubt devastation with life and being ill on top of the whole damn town turning on u .. you rest in peace now Mike, and your story will never be forgotten but that it helps us understand and gives us positive knowledge to never treat man or beast like you they treated. God bless your beautiful soul
Hello Mr.Leo I've been enjoying the history of our beautiful wonderful state of wva. Please travel north to Wheeling,wva Ohio county we have a lot of wonderful history id like for you to do on your channel if you would and could...Id greatly appreciate it hugs loves and many blessings from one MOUNTAINEER HILLBILLY TO ANOTHER ❤
Noted!
It is sad to see the ignorance of ppl back then. Like the great Barack Obama once said, the good ol days were not so great. I’m so glad we live in a more accepting society today. But it doesn’t erase the evil of yesteryear. That’s why we can never go back. Love is love ❤️ 🌈
Ty Leo
Glad you covered his story,I remember watching him on Oprah and I couldn't believe how awful people were to him. I was in my early teens and I remember I cried for him,he seemed like such a gentle kind person. I was raised in a christian home my dad a deacon and my mom in the choir but they would never have treated anyone like that. I was raised only God can judge and to treat others as you would have them treat you and his story was one of the first times I saw "Christian" people treat someone with such cruelty. Of course through the years I have seen it more and more and I still have a hard time with accepting how much hatred and cruelty there is in this world. After this I always said to my mom that maybe this is hell and we are reborn and have to repeat our time here until we get it right.. I hope his family knows that many of us were touched by his story and did care,and I hope he is a much better place❤
Beautifully said, thank you 💓
Some of the biggest hypocrites I've ever seen.....were at church!
Well it was a scary time we didn't know if you could contact it by touching someone it was all new an very scary times
TB, small pox, so many others
I can’t stand Opra
It's not about her, it's about Mike
I know I am sorry
@@donnamietjo we don't like Oprah either
@@thehillbillyfiles Oprah is the poster child for racism and a queen racist herself. Ask most whites who worked for or had any dealings with her. Irrelevant to the content but just had to get that off my chest.
Maybe she really did care but I'm sure her motive to air this was mostly about the money.
I was on that show
@19:47…..it’s not 2024 yet; it’s still 2023.
This Oprah episode has to be erased from TH-cam? It's bout as good a people watching as muddy gut holler and it's erased. On a side note being a neighbor of this area traveling thru there I have to ask how long did it take to build hwy 119 between Pikeville and belfry? Lol good God it had to take centuries?
Seems like it took about 3 years or so. The old road took all day, especially if you got behind a coal truck.
@thehillbillyfiles lol yall do roads right over the border if you come my way on 460 from shorts gap virginia to Richlands virginia it has to be the curviest 55 mph 4 lane highway in the USA... it's fun driving it. Hopefully the new 460 will be completed soon past grundy so it's 4 lane all the way thru
We’ve come a long way baby. Thank God❤
Great story Leo. I remember those times so well. Yes its better now but there is still so much ignorance about this disease from people who aren't willing to open their hearts and their minds and educate themselves. RIP Mike
❤❤❤
The wages of sin is death. IT’s abomination to God. Jesus Saves. Don’t be mean to sinners. Show them love but we do reap what we sow.
Mean people
I don't want any of their religion if that's the way it has to be that's not the religion that I was raised with
"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."
I really enjoy your videos, you and Heather do an amazing job, but I refuse to watch oprah on anything. I can no longer watch your videos,
That's fine
@laurelcoem9769 it's your loss this video was not about Oprah it was about Mike. It's a great video leo. Thank you
I know some gay people and there cool people