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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (March 2, 2001)
15 nTTTHWSTïnews Free Massage F rom the G round U p If you have been in an auto accident in (he last 12 months. Dana Whitley turned his life around by thinking big Other services available: by Tom Stevenson DOWNTOWN AT 927 SW OAK ana Whitley knows what it is like to struggle. He also knows what it is like to rise above the toughest battles and not only persevere but prosper. Understanding those two things, it is then easy to understand why the 36-year-old took the time recently to talk about his life: where he is going and where he has been. As a man who has been HIV-positive for more than 10 years, he says he knows the feelings that accompany a lack of hope. But as a man who has learned to live with the situation, and prosper in spite of it, he car ries a message of hope. The key, according to Whitley, is learning to think big. “People always think so small,” he says. “Even when they think they’re thinking big, they’re not. I am always thinking big, and not only about taking bigger chances. I am always looking at the big picture.” Those are not the words Whitley always would liave spoken. When he was diagnosed as HIV-pos D Dana Whitley’s arbor company teaches people maintain and care for their trees itive, he says he was "ashamed and embarrassed.” For the next five or six years, Whitley says he had a job and continued to live life as usual. His T cell count remained at 750. Then, things began to go downhill fast. Whitley saw his T cell count drop to 190, cross ing the common threshold in the diagnosis of full-blown AIDS. He also started dealing with the mental battle. “I did a lot of dumb things,” Whitley says. “I lived in a bad neighborhood. I racked up some thing like $40,000 to $45,000 in credit card debt. I just didn’t make a lot of good choices.” Like so many before him—and since—Whit ley says he simply was waiting to die. But one day not long after his T cell count fell below the “dreaded" number, he made a different choice. “1 went on the cocktail and immediately felt better, both physically and mentally," Whitley says. “The side effects were completely gone after about six months.” Along with the cocktail, Whitley started taking antidepressants, and during the next few years instead of looking at how long he had before he died, he began looking at ways to live. A lifelong physical fitness buff, he continued going to the gym to work out three days a week. He had been in a relationship for seven years, and he ended that. He also filed for bankruptcy. It was a time of renewal. It was a time to start over. Whitley had quit working when his health started to deteriorate, so he made the decision to go back to school. In 1997, he took out a student loan and started taking classes at Portland Com munity College. Whitley decided to put his forestry back ground to good use. One year ago, he opened Emerald Tree, a Portland arbor company. Shortly after launching it, he got a business partner who has a degree in forestry and is a cer tified arborist. Jim Wentworth-Plato and his wife have become crucial allies as Whitley continues his turnaround. Emerald Tree does not just come in and trim trees or chop them down. Whitley and Wentworth-Plato teach people how to maintain and care for their trees. “We educate people about trees,” Whitley says. “A lot of people don’t know anything about trees even though they are surrounded by them. We are there to help them.” Although the company is quite young, the owners have purchased a $22,000 wood chipper and are spending more than $20,000 a year in advertis ing. They are serious about what they are doing. “Becoming self-employed has done wonders for my self-esteem,” Whitley says. “Everything in my life has changed. I’m never really content, but I’m happy. I’m definitely happier than I’ve ever been.” He says it took him seven years to real ize he was making the wrong choices. Once he went on the medication and simply started kxiking at things different ly, he says life dramatically changed. "A lot of people won’t try,” Whitley says. “I am here to say that people shouldn’t be afraid to try anything. Peo how to ple told me not to go into business for myself. Today I’m not afraid of any thing. There is such a huge difference in my atti tude. It’s like black and white.” Whitley is a perfect example of what can happen with what he calls the right “attitude change.” Today he is single and happy. His T cell count is about 850. Life is grxxl. And taking it one step further, Whitley says he is more than willing to serve as a sounding board for people going through the same strug gles he went through. “I’m willing to talk to people,” he says. “They need to know what can happen if you think big. They need to know that they don’t have to give up.” JF! For more information about EMERALD TREE or to speak with Whitley call 503-522-7772. T om S tevenson is a Portland-hosed free-lance writer. Chiropractic Physical Therapy Sports Medicine Rehabilitation The NW’s best selection of gay erotica, including: • Every erotic photo book and art book in print •Every book of erotic fiction and nonfiction zprtF & •Foreign and domestic mags, always at 10% off •Vintage physique photos and magazines John's Landing & Inalatili 503-226-0950 11-b .\K).\-S.\r.j2-6 Sl\\. 220-81 il V isualize Y our Beauty • Personal Image Design • Hair & Wig Styling • Specializing in Trans-Formation • Professional Makeup • Exp. with feature film & TV • Friendly Private Salon CUCIHIflAS Creations 501 286-7000 Laser Hair Any Color Hair or Ski Discreet Trans-Friendly Tan Skin OK! Ho Area Restriction Registered Nurse On ÿst, Conforta^ Af J os yo A.s www pma-nw .com 503-223-3369 2128 N.W. 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