Writer's Block: AIDS Awareness

[azraelz_angel]

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My first "real" introduction to HIV and AIDS came from a girl that my mother was home-schooling. Megan's mother was accidentally infected with HIV from a blood transfusion while she was pregnant with Megan. And thus, Megan was born with HIV. She knew, even from an early age that she wasn't going to lead a normal life, so she donated her body to science while she was still alive. The experimental drugs they gave her ultimately destroyed her body, destroyed her internal organs. She died before her 12th birthday and it broke my mother.

I've been wearing the Until There's A Cure silver AIDS bracelet, in memory of Megan (and everyone else that has been touched by HIV/AIDS) ever since that day in the mid-90s. It's stupid, but I get all offended when people think it's a breast cancer bracelet - because apparently that's 'more cool and commercialized' than the AIDS bracelet, at least with the people I come in contact with. The bracelet means a lot to me; it helps me remember a little 11 year old girl that was so beautiful and alive in my mother's eyes. It helps me remember that you have to be so careful in this world. It helps me remember that there are people - good people - out there that have HIV/AIDS and need everyone's love and support.

My best friend is currently volunteering with an AIDS organization over in Africa. She helps get food and drugs to those that need it. And I think that is so awesome - that she is so awesome for doing it. It has really opened her eyes to the world - to a completely different way of living. And I think she will come home a better person for it. And I know the people appreciate the help, however tiny, she has given them.

I have been blessed as HIV/AIDS has not directly affected my family. And for that I am so very thankful.

I keep hoping that we will find a cure. I know we will someday, I just wish that 'someday' was today.

And I shall leave you with a fic rec. It's a BtVS - Xander story, but kaylashay81 wrote it years ago in recognition of World AIDS Day. All About the Journey.

Comments

[jelloh0530.livejournal.com]

*hugs you and yours*

[azraelz-angel.livejournal.com]

*hugs you back*



Grrr at LJ - somehow I never got notified about any of the comments on this post. Grrr!

[avamclean.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

When I was training to be a massage therapist we volunteered at a Hospice house four times a month and I was one of three people willing, without being prompted by my teachers, to volunteer for the AIDs wing.

They were just so grateful to be touched, even through gloves (because some did have open sores), that it nearly broke my heart. *shakes head* On several occasions I stayed late with one other volunteer to make sure that everyone got a massage. I was usually exhausted and exhilarated by the time I left, but damn if it wasn’t worth it.

[azraelz-angel.livejournal.com]

*hugs* You do so much volunteer work - I am so very proud of you.

I will fully admit that when I was younger - even when my Mom was working with Megan that HIV/AIDS freaked me out and I didn't understand it and how it worked, how it was contracted, etc. I look back on me back then and frown because I was really under-educated.

I think the whole touching thing is the most frustrating issue I have with how people treat people with HIV/AIDS. You aren't going to get it from touching them, from holding hands, from sitting next to them, etc. But people freak, and while I understand, it is frustrating!

[trish76543.livejournal.com]

I've been really hit hard with the reality of AIDS and you're story just brought me to tears. The ignorance of the general public on this issue astounds me. So many people think it is a moral issue, but there are so many times where the infection is not the result of a bad moral decision. In Africa AIDS is completely wiping out an entire generation of young people. So many children are being born HIV positive, and only live to the age of 3. How can we all sit by and allow these things to happen? I applaud you and you're friend for doing something, stories like this keep me going.
I think you should listen to the music on my myspace, it's from an EP called Take the Walk, the songs are all about HIV/AIDS and the impact it is having.
http://www.myspace.com/1007LeitchSt

[azraelz-angel.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the link to your myspace - you are doing great things speaking out, raising money and awareness, etc :)

The ignorance of the general public on this issue astounds me. This is so very true and something that only speaking out and educating the public en masse will stop...

[toxica939.livejournal.com]

Got you message earlier honey, thanks for the heads up!

[azraelz-angel.livejournal.com]

No problem sweetie :)

[exposed1.livejournal.com]

You're a beautiful person and I wish I could hug that little girl. *squish*

[azraelz-angel.livejournal.com]

*squishes you back*

LJ totally sucked and didn't notify me of any of these comments. Grr @ LJ.

[bobbinrob.livejournal.com]

oh those stories are so sad *hugs*

[azraelz-angel.livejournal.com]

They are sad, but I've kinda been looking to the beautiful side of them. There is beauty in life - beauty in how people choose to deal with a situation (no matter how horrible).

*hugs*