Before During and After AIDS

Dear Joan,

 

Thank you for allowing me the honor of reading your book and becoming touched by the life of your son, King.  I truly found it an honor to read this book.  You son was an exceptional individual, with a great amount of love, patience and tolerance in his soul.  I admire him for everything that he was and everything that he still is.  I am so thankful for the opportunity to have been touched by his life.

 

Kelli

 

 

One Reader at a Time   
Hope
Hawaii  (7/4/2005)

Before, During and After Aids: A Mother’s Love and Memories Written by: Joan Thomas Nelson “Before, During and After Aids: A Mother’s Love and Memories,” is a topic that is dear to my heart. My cousin passed away in her late twenties, of HIV/AIDS. She was a remarkable young woman, with two young children. I watched her as she went from the perfect picture of health, to the frailty that accompanies this disease. Joan Thomas Nelson boldly discusses the issues that homosexual people are sadly faced with. They are ridiculed, shunned, rejected, taunted and isolated, simply because of their sexual orientation. Their families also face shame, a myriad of questions as to their loved ones’ illness or early passing, whispered conversations as they pass those aware of the individuals illness or death etc. It’s as if those infected with HIV/AIDS, and their family members, are counted as dead, long before they die. I say this because those who hand out these harsh sentences of judgment upon those inflicted with HIV/AIDS, act as though the individual has no emotions and cannot be affected by their disturbing callousness, and plain disregard for them. There are the cold-hearted comments made in regards to homosexual individuals, which are made by our lawmakers. There are the hypocritical comments and actions of those who profess to love God and then, in the same breath, condemn those living with the HIV/AIDS virus. And, sadly, there are those parents who choose to disown or suddenly stop loving their children because they are homosexual. Joan Thomas Nelson shares misconceptions and myths about HIV/AIDS, as well as ideas for the prevention of it. She shares the different facets of grieving, along with the sweet memories of her son. I commend Joan Thomas Nelson on her courage and bravery to step forward and write on this topic. We, as a society, wonder why there are such high levels of hate crimes in our communities. We needn’t wonder, when it is much like the rolling stone that collects moss. If our government officials are speaking this way of those afflicted with HIV/AIDS, why would civilians act or speak any differently? Joan Thomas Nelson eloquently and truthfully educates her readers on all aspects concerning the HIV/AIDS illness. She teaches us, through her gentle and humble spirit, what it means to genuinely care for those that are afflicted with it. She calls for an accountability of those in the professional realm to stand up and help reframe the thinking of our society, as a whole. She challenges us, as a reader, to help play a part in reconstructing our society’s viewpoint on this horrendous illness, and those tragically affected by it -- one reader at a time. I urge each reader to consider bringing this book to the attention of the Department of Education, within their community, in the hopes of having a copy of this book on the shelves of local high schools. In my opinion, it should be a required read in every high school across the country. We have much to learn on this topic, and Joan Thomas Nelson is obviously willing and quite capable, to educate us. Hope Fields Author of: Journey to the Magical Places of the Heart