World AIDS Day

[GraysonKelly]

Hi All,
I just wanted to take a minute and ask everyone to stop for a few and think about, say a prayer for those around the world who have been afflicted with this horrible disease.

I won't bore with statisitics and all that. Just please take a moment to remember a friend who has/is battling, say a prayer, and advocate if you can for prevention.

Thanks and blessings,
Gray

[Pax]

I walked over to a small lunchtime vigil held here on campus.

I still can't believe how long this horrid disease has been destroying lives. :(

[Aggie_Ama]

I still can't believe how long this horrid disease has been destroying lives. :(


Long enough that a generation of adults cannot remember there not being AIDS- too long. I was born in 1981, I remember what it was like in the 80's with the fear and the made for tv movies I saw but I do not remember what it was like before then, I was too young.

I will light a candle in honor of my cousin's father who succumbed to it in the 90's. I never met him after he divorced my aunt but care deeply for his son.

[Pax]

Long enough that a generation of adults cannot remember there not being AIDS- too long. I was born in 1981, I remember what it was like in the 80's with the fear and the made for tv movies I saw but I do not remember what it was like before then, I was too young.

I had a part-time job tending bar in a gay bar in the early 80's, when AIDS hit it was the stuff nightmares are made of.

[salsabike]

Yes. We lost so many wonderful people. Still miss them all.

[snapdragen]

Yes. We lost so many wonderful people. Still miss them all.

+ one million

[nancielle]

This is the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day observances. I am part of the organizing team for our local observance which will take place tonight.
The numbers in our area are on the rise which shows there is still much work to be done. Was at a conference this morning and one of the speakers did a wonderful, interactive presentation on stereotypes & stigma which I will probably incorporate into the speech that I have to give tonight.

Phill Wilson, founder & executive director of the Black AIDS Institute wrote in an article entitled "Take on the Responsibility", published in HIV Plus magazine (11/04):

"AIDS is everyone's problem, and all of us - positive and negative - need to be a part of the solution. By getting informed, getting tested, getting treated, and most important, getting involved, each of us can rise to the challenge. As someone who has had to deal with that challenge every day for almost two decades, I can tell you that every infection we prevent is cause for celebration."

With "Leadership" being one of the sub-themes for WAD 2008, I think it fits.

<ok, off my soapbox now.>

[Pax]

I'm working at my desk this afternoon, listening to the soundtrack of Rent, seemed appropriate.

[salsabike]

http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/conditions/12/01/fauci.world.aids.day/index.html

[Pax]

I watched three different news programs yesterday, not one mentioned it. :(

[GraysonKelly]

I watched three different news programs yesterday, not one mentioned it. :(
I know, it's awful. However, my local news paper did a very good article about it yesterday. I saved it but I haven't found it online. If you can figure out to how to get it please let me know. It was the Morgantown, WV Dominion Post. Anyway, I thought it was really good. The main story was supplemented by individual stories about a couple of people in this area and mentioned the candle light vigil held downtown last night. It was great. I was at the vigil and it was inspiring but sad. Great to see so many out and about though. Unfortunately this is WV so there were also some ignorant *^&*$@# out.
Gray

[Trek420]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/article?f=/c/a/2008/12/01/BA9G14ESHJ.DTL&o=0

[crazycanuck]

Here's a good article http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7754007.stm

I still remember Ryan White :(

[Trek420]

Here's a good article http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7754007.stm

I still remember Ryan White :(

While personaly cancer has effected myself and family more but my feelings about AIDS/HIV are complex and deep.

One thing is that kids don't get enough attention in this pandemic. I got a chance to tour Oakland Children's Hospital AIDS ward once. We did not meet the kids and parents but talked at length to the staff.

For families in poverty having AIDS one might as well be in a developing country. Some medication requires temp control, most have elaborate timing involved; take this before a meal, that after etc. A Dr. pointed out they have homeless patients. How do you keep the kids meds refrigerated? How do you get them regular meals?

He also said and I don't know if this is true but if they can keep the kids well through adolescence often the virus dissapears. But how to do that is the challenge and some fall through the cracks of medical care.

[Aggie_Ama]

I live in supposedly socially conscious Austin, nothing in the paper. We are becoming so jaded here.

[OakLeaf]

Honestly I'd rather have it discussed on message boards and blogs and NOT in the paper. When a medical cause is in the paper, on every store shelf, it means that it's totally controlled by corporate interests and the "awareness" times are more about profit than about the patients.

So many of the AIDS-related charities are community-based, focused on helping PWA's and HIV+ populations cope. Much more worthwhile IMO than many medical charities - and yet, less corporate support just because of less corporate profit.

Thanks for the reminder, Gray. Actually I'd forgotten it was World AIDS Day - and yet, I found myself on Monday thinking about a couple of friends I'd lost to AIDS.

[GraysonKelly]

Honestly I'd rather have it discussed on message boards and blogs and NOT in the paper. When a medical cause is in the paper, on every store shelf, it means that it's totally controlled by corporate interests and the "awareness" times are more about profit than about the patients.

So many of the AIDS-related charities are community-based, focused on helping PWA's and HIV+ populations cope. Much more worthwhile IMO than many medical charities - and yet, less corporate support just because of less corporate profit.

Thanks for the reminder, Gray. Actually I'd forgotten it was World AIDS Day - and yet, I found myself on Monday thinking about a couple of friends I'd lost to AIDS.

I understand exactly what you mean. I was impressed that my local paper covered it, but then again I live in a university town and all kinds of groups were behind it. So I guess they made sure that it wasn't forgotten. I have not had the unfortunate experience of losing a loved one to this disease, but I have befriended and treated several patients over the years. I also have several friends who have experienced the pain of losing their loved ones. It is heartbreaking. It's maddening that there is still so much ignorance and intolerance surrounding this disease. Ahh, I don't wanna get up on my soapbox but it really does break my heart.
I was just out of high school and had just lost a very dear patient we'd been treating for years to pneumonia complicated by AIDS. I also learned that year that December 1 was World AIDS Day which is also my birthday. So, I picked up the gauntlet and decided to do all I could to be involved with battling this disease. I desperately wish I could find employment with an agency that does this kind of work. But regardless of where I am I hope to continue to be involved in this fight. It really is one that all of us should be fighting. We all should be supporting those who are already afflicted and doing our damnedest to prevent others from contracting it.
Okay, I'm done. I'm thankful that people chimed in on this thread.
Take care,
Gray

[Pax]

Happy belated birthday Gray, and thanks for all your efforts.