Memories After Son Dies With AIDS
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The Power of Knowledge; A Mother’s Love After AIDS 12:34 PM, February 7, 2007 Before, During and After AIDS/A Mother’s Love and Memories I want to share this story about my son; King, who lived with HIV/AIDS and died when he was 33 from complications of the AIDS virus on April 26,1996. My son was diagnosed with HIV in the early 1990s but we think he became infected in the early 1980s. He did not have any of the outward symptoms or what people think HIV/AIDS looks like. People with HIV look just like everybody else. This is why testing is so important. There are a lot of parents who could read this book and learn about their children whether they are gay, lesbian, heterosexual, etc. I couldn’t find very much information about this dreaded disease until I started searching the Internet after my son lost his battle. I thought I knew what it was, because he was dealing with it, but I, like so many others just don’t understand until it is to late that there are so many out there fighting this battle just like he was. I also have been thinking of how many are out there fighting and have been kicked out of their home, lost their job, lost their friends, been scorned, had people point fingers at them and beat them or even kill them because they are infected with this disease. This is when I discovered the Quilt Organization, (The Names Project). Who would speak out publicly and make a commitment and show they cared. The Quilt Organization and two young men, (Ramon Martinez and Andy Ives worked with the Foundation) was there for me with email information, letters and phone conversations. This is one of the reasons I am donating a percentage of my book royalties to the foundation. We need to remind ourselves that in the last 25 years, 25 million people have died of AIDS, forty million people worldwide-one million in the US alone, are living with HIV/AIDS and 20 million plus orphans as a result of AIDS, (as many as one third doesn’t know they are infected). With as many as five million new infections last year, we must increase our efforts to end this virus. Because every person has an individual responsibility to make every effort to eliminate HIV/AIDS. I want to set an example for others: I promise to try and let people know that HIV/AIDS is not just a “gay disease, this disease does not discriminate. I want to be a positive influence in helping to educate people while trying to prevent so much pain because of the environment of silence and secrecy. ~~Silence is giving in to it. ~~Secrecy because of retaliation. Preventing this virus from spreading can and should be a priority. This virus does not have a cure, as a lot of people think today, with the number of babies, children and adults contracting HIV the virus that causes AIDS everyday, it is crucial that everyone becomes well informed about how we can and should make every effort to try and eliminate this virus worldwide. Researchers are striving to find an effective AIDS vaccine, better treatments with fewer side effects and eventually, a cure. Success of finding a cure depends on the generosity of people like you and me. Thank you for your time, Just Joan Thomas Nelson. |
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