World AIDS Day

[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.