[2] DiPaolo had been diagnosed with a heart disease, atrial septal defect, and surgery was needed to save his life.
Instead, DiPaolo became very active in school and, with the help of medicines, saw his health improve in 1989 to the point that he was able to live a typical life.
He recovered and was able to attend an AIDS funds gala where he met NFL football player Lawrence Taylor.
In 1992, HBO aired the Lifestories: Families in Crisis special "Blood Brothers: The Joey DiPaolo Story".
[2] He resides in Staten Island, with his wife Lauren and daughters Joey Jayde and Vivy Rey, and operates DiPaolo's Barber Shop in Tottenville.