Joseph Burke is a modern day miracle, public speaker, advocate, life coach, care counselor at his local church, as well as acclaimed broadcaster and musician.
He was diagnosed with HIV at age 2, and is among a handful of the oldest survivors in the nation living with the disease for 40 plus years now. Also co-infected with Hepatitis C, Joseph lived over 30 years with the liver disease after being cured with the new drug Sovaldi in 2014.
Today, his largest hurdle is chronic pain from joint damage with permanent injuries to his right knee, both elbows and both ankles.
Everyday is an uphill battle, but the key to his ongoing perseverance is through his personal faith and tremendous love and support from his wife Alexandra - who happens to be a Registered Nurse.
Joseph may not be an athlete, but his strength is in his encouraging words, spirit and humility. Today, he carries the torch for those who've passed on from the Hemophiliac AIDS crisis of the 1980's, and educates schools, local chapters and groups on HIV, Hepatitis C and Hemophilia awareness.
He's a survivor, a miracle and a leader in the greater Central Florida region and beyond.
