Friday, December 01, 2006
The 25th Year of AIDS
It,s the evening of World AIDS Day and I still haven't posted anything special for it. I have hoped all day long that I would get a sudden inspiration but it hasn't happened. So, I'll just have to tell it from the heart.
World AIDS Day means so much to me because of those I love who have passed, those I know now living with the disease, those whom I hope we can save from contacting it and especially because of the person I share my life with, who has AIDS.
I have been the primary caregiver for two people whom I love. The first, my nephew Pat, was one of the early persons to contact what was then known as G.R.I.D. My partner Dan was diagnosed in 1991. I have been a support person to many more.
We have been together since then. We have had lots of ups and downs, but his fighting spirit and never quit attitude are inspiring to me. (Look back in the archives to one of my first posts, "My hero's") or click on the link for the BIKEBOYS site for more about him and all he does.
I could never begin to list all the people I have known who have lost their lives to this disease. The effect of seeing a beautiful human being become so ill and waste away has a tremendous effect on your inner being.
To hold someone you love in your arms as they ask you for permission to let go and die is something you never get over.
I will always have a sad part of me that forever mourns the losses. But we who mourn have an obligation too.
We must urge our new Democrat controlled congress to pass new bills, to spend more funds on research to treat and find a cure and to educate and prevent the spread of this pandemic.
We must insist the the Bush administrations policy of pushing abstinence-only programs be halted. These programs do not work and only cause a drain of finds and efforts from programs which teach prevention in a more realistic approach.
WE must insist that people in Africa and other areas in the third world should receive more funds and support.
These are the facts:
Forty thousand persons become infected every year in the US.
Of those living with AIDS in the US 1/3 to 1/2 are either homeless or in danger of becoming homeless.
HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death among those between 15-59 WORLDWIDE!
HIV/AIDS has become the 3rd leading cause of death among all diseases.
An estimated 35.9 million people worldwide are living with AIDS.
Over 25 million people have died of AIDS worldwide.
There are more than 12 million AIDS orphans in Africa.
Check out the link at the begins of this post for more figures.
So, as World AIDS Day fades, we must do our part to help, in the name of those who are no longer with us.
Posted with Love for Pat & Scott, and for so many others. Deacon Harry
World AIDS Day means so much to me because of those I love who have passed, those I know now living with the disease, those whom I hope we can save from contacting it and especially because of the person I share my life with, who has AIDS.
I have been the primary caregiver for two people whom I love. The first, my nephew Pat, was one of the early persons to contact what was then known as G.R.I.D. My partner Dan was diagnosed in 1991. I have been a support person to many more.
We have been together since then. We have had lots of ups and downs, but his fighting spirit and never quit attitude are inspiring to me. (Look back in the archives to one of my first posts, "My hero's") or click on the link for the BIKEBOYS site for more about him and all he does.
I could never begin to list all the people I have known who have lost their lives to this disease. The effect of seeing a beautiful human being become so ill and waste away has a tremendous effect on your inner being.
To hold someone you love in your arms as they ask you for permission to let go and die is something you never get over.
I will always have a sad part of me that forever mourns the losses. But we who mourn have an obligation too.
We must urge our new Democrat controlled congress to pass new bills, to spend more funds on research to treat and find a cure and to educate and prevent the spread of this pandemic.
We must insist the the Bush administrations policy of pushing abstinence-only programs be halted. These programs do not work and only cause a drain of finds and efforts from programs which teach prevention in a more realistic approach.
WE must insist that people in Africa and other areas in the third world should receive more funds and support.
These are the facts:
Forty thousand persons become infected every year in the US.
Of those living with AIDS in the US 1/3 to 1/2 are either homeless or in danger of becoming homeless.
HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death among those between 15-59 WORLDWIDE!
HIV/AIDS has become the 3rd leading cause of death among all diseases.
An estimated 35.9 million people worldwide are living with AIDS.
Over 25 million people have died of AIDS worldwide.
There are more than 12 million AIDS orphans in Africa.
Check out the link at the begins of this post for more figures.
So, as World AIDS Day fades, we must do our part to help, in the name of those who are no longer with us.
Posted with Love for Pat & Scott, and for so many others. Deacon Harry
