Photos: When AIDS Comes Home

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Photos: When AIDS Comes Home

Beginning in 1988, reporter Steve Sternberg and photographer Michael A. Schwarz spent 18 months working on a story for the AJC about Tom Fox’s battle with AIDS. A month after Fox died, the 16-page story, “When AIDS Comes Home,” was published, and it won a number of awards.

After having difficulty breathing, Tom is taken to University Hospital to have fluid drained from around his lungs, Portland, Oregon, June 29, 1989. Michael Schwarz / The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Tom Fox quietly crying after the news that his most recent radiation and chemotherapy treatments have failed, leaving nothing more that can be done, Atlanta, Georgia, May 17, 1989. Michael Schwarz / The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Tom Fox quietly staring at the Pacfic coast, during the drive from Newport to Eugene, Oregon, July 3, 1989. Michael Schwarz / The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Tom Fox, quite distressed, after writing the 100th name on a list of his friends who have died of AIDS, Atlanta, Georgia, February 15, 1989. Michael Schwarz / The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Tom Fox searching for a panel he and several others made to honor Drew Wideman, a friend from Atlanta who died of AIDS two years earlier, Washington, D.C., October 10, 1988. Michael Schwarz / The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Tom Fox suffering through a pentamidine treatment, in hopes to stave off a form of pneumonia often fatal to AIDS patients, at Atlanta Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia, 1988-1989. Michael Schwarz / The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Tom Fox suffering through a pentamidine treatment, in hopes to stave off a form of pneumonia often fatal to AIDS patients, at Atlanta Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia, 1988-1989. Michael Schwarz / The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Tom Fox suffering through a pentamidine treatment, in hopes to stave off a form of pneumonia often fatal to AIDS patients, at Atlanta Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia, 1988-1989. Michael Schwarz / The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Tom Fox visiting his friend, Johnnie, at Atlanta Hospital. Johnnie is there with his mother, Patsy. During this same visit, Tom underwent a blood transfusion and had fluid drained from his around his lungs, Atlanta, Georgia, June 20, 1989. Michael Schwarz / The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Tom Fox visiting the Spring Hill funeral home to make arrangements for his funeral. Although he has decided to be cremated, he is taking a moment to help his friend and fellow AIDS sufferer, Pat Heinrich, choose a casket, Atlanta, Georgia, August 29, 1988. Michael Schwarz / The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Tom Fox waiting for an update on his condition, while his doctor, Ronald White, and a technician, Charles Brown, check his X-rays at Atlanta Hospital. At this point, Tom has been living with AIDS for nine months, Atlanta, Georgia, July 6, 1988. Michael Schwarz / The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Tom Fox with his friends, Linda Hiligross and Bonny Baratta, eating dinner at a condominium owned by Bonny's parents, Newport, Oregon, July 1, 1989. Michael Schwarz / The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Tom Fox with his longtime friend, Bonny Baratta, and her husband, Tom Baretta, at Mo's Restaurant, Otter Creek, Oregon, 1989. Michael Schwarz / The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Tom Fox's parents, Bob and Doris, hug in his hospital room at Sacred Heart Hospital, Eugene, Oregon, July 1989. Michael Schwarz / The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Tom Fox's parents, Bob and Doris, weeping after his service at St. Mark's United Methodist Church. Doris' hand is resting on the box containing Tom's cremated ashes, Atlanta, Georgia, July 23, 1989. Michael Schwarz / The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Tom Fox during physical therapy at Atlanta Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia, April 25, 1989. Michael Schwarz / The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Tom Fox holding a bag of fluid drained from around his lungs, totaling about 1.5 quarts, Atlanta Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia, June 20, 1989. Michael Schwarz / The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Tom Fox hooked up to his portable oxygen tank, shivering and unable to get out of bed -- with his dog, Sassy, Atlanta, Georgia, 1989. Michael Schwarz / The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Tom Fox hugging his dog, Sassy, in his home in Grant Park, after becoming ill when at lunch, Atlanta, Georgia, December 13, 1988. Michael Schwarz / The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Tom Fox looking in the mirror at his home, shocked by the amount of hair he is losing, resulting from chemotherapy, Atlanta, Georgia, 1988-1989. Michael Schwarz / The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Moments before his death, Tom Fox is surrounded by grieving loved ones. At his side are his mother, Doris, his father, Bob Fox, Sr., his older brother, Bob Jr., and his younger brother, John, Sacred Heart Hospital, Eugene, Oregon, July 11, 1989. Michael Schwarz / The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Bob and Doris, Tom Fox's parents, visiting him at Crawford Long Hospital, shortly after he was admitted with fever, chills, and breathing difficulties, Atlanta, Georgia, October 16, 1988. Michael Schwarz / The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Bob Fox, Tom Fox's father, weeping in the waiting room soon after arriving to Sacred Heart Hospital and seeing his son in his moribund condition for the first time, Eugene, Oregon, July 6, 1989. Michael Schwarz / The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Flexible skeleton figure, dubbed Mr. Ben D. Bones, that Tom Fox took with him whenever he went to the hospital, Atlanta, Georgia, 1987-1989. Michael Schwarz / The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Tom Fox on vacation, at Mallory Square, Key West, Florida, May, 1988. Michael Schwarz / The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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After having difficulty breathing, Tom is taken to University Hospital to have fluid drained from around his lungs, Portland, Oregon, June 29, 1989. Michael Schwarz / The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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