The world erupted that day because Magic Johnson was so beloved. At that point in time, many believed that HIV naturally led to AIDS, which automatically meant a death sentence. The fact that so prominent and loved a personality as Magic Johnson was a victim was stunning news.
Fortunately, Magic Johnson is still alive. Advances in HIV treatments saved his life, and today he is healthy and living a relatively normal life with his wife, children and thriving business interests. That long-ago press conference, while not forgotten, is no longer viewed as the final chapter in his career, and Johnson even came back to play basketball and coach the Lakers for a time.
Living with HIV
Today, HIV is no longer regarded as a death sentence. While people can and do die from HIV infections, it no longer is automatic, and most HIV-infected people manage to live well with the disease and die of natural causes at a normal life expectancy.
But unlike many viruses, the human body cannot shed HIV. Once acquired, the patient will have HIV for life. There is still no cure for HIV or AIDS, but research continues.
Meanwhile, HIV is managed by antiretroviral therapy, or ART. It lowers the chance of infecting others and extends the lives of people already infected. Its introduction in the mid-1990s was a godsend because many early HIV cases progressed to AIDS and death within a few years.