In memory of my cousin Jared waye.
i miss you so much.and i think of you in my heart and mind.

my sister Wend died in 1998 from HIV. We miss her terribly. I now have four children and it is hard for me to describe m older sister to them. They only see pictures. My oldest boy now 15 was the onl child i ever had while she was still living. She was a wonderful nurse in Boston MA . What she went through was terrible. I remember nurses who were once her friends shunning her because of the fear that they might catch something. But with a little support she started something wondersful and because of some of the talks she gave, she helped to educate people abot HIV infection. Things are so different now and had she been alive a little longer she might have been able to start the medications that so many People living with AIDs now take, whilew waiting for a cure. She is with us every day and her memory is alive and well in our family. I want to say thank you to anyone who might have known her then. She loved you all and because of the work she accomplished before her death medical professionals have a better understanding of caring for people with HIV and AIDS. Wendy was a pioneer in the medical professional arena. She was also I believe the frst Registered nurse to contract HIV from a work related incident. We now have a website that accepts consigned goods to help raise money for HIV and AIDS and AIDS Action . Our motto is Sell one, buy one to help some. http://www.floridaconsignments.com
Remember to donate to your local AIDS Action chapter.
Remember those you know and do not know who live with AIDS
and remember to love them everyday.
With loving thoughts
Her baby sister.
Ruthmary

Then & now-And the Band Played on (Book by Randy Shiltz-Movie 1990-watch it Netflix) but the band plays on & on & on--A blessing that it is. I was amazed at the AAC event on Sunday, but joined with trepidation and mixed feelings. BUT IT WAS A PHENOMENAL EVENT, BRAVO. I lived in a world before AIDS. I came out late and it was not easy. Stigma, no rights. I am in sales in health care 15 years still involved in the provision of care for people with HIV/AIDS but now co-infection with Hepatitis co infection and a rise of STD's. I was confused and frightened back then. I was born and bred in Boston, but moved to DC for 14 years for business and eventually FL for another 14 years. I enjoyed, the bars, men dancing with shirts, great music. But I drank a lot for courage. I sought help from my employer for help with that issue and when a member of EAP came out to help and talk I told him I was gay and his response was! "Don't ever mention that again or you will not have a job"! I was at the walk this Sunday and got a call my oldest friend, str8 from H.S. and told me his mom died. She was 90, it was a blessing and many of us understand and are prepared for it. I was not prepared for grid, the Gay plague, & was not prepared to test False POZ. After 6 mos of re-testing my results came back neg & neg. Whew! In DC I fell in love and all three children in my partner's family were Gay following that I came out to my family and my Dad asked, "what about a family/". I said Dad in gay life all your friends are your family. That family soon was gone! Over the last 30 years just last month I lost the 17th friend to complications associated with HIV. I was not prepared for it. Going back to 1987 my first partner's family, my brother-in-law had a partner of 10 years. His partner died and mos later my brother-in-law died. WE were not prepared for it. In the ensuing 30 months 13 more friends died. The family was gone. I was not prepared for it. One of the 13 was my best friend, I was called to his home-to talk with him and his partner and he informed me he was going to commit suicide, while I was conflicted, I understood. He could no longer handle the fact that we had to change his diapers. He wanted to die with dignity. By then we knew it was AIDS but we did not even have AZT. At the first Aids quilt which covered the entire Mall in DC. Arlington cemetery was on the right and the Quilt stretched from the Lincoln memorial to the Capital. Instead of confetti that covers that mall on the 4th of July it was covered with tissues wiping back tears. Volunteers were not there like this past Sunday cheering people on, (BRAVO Again to AAC). Those volunteers were holding and consoling strangers, strangers consoled strangers. No performances were entertaining the crowd. In its place throngs of individuals came up to the podium and read the names on each of handmade 3' x3' panels. It went on all day! How could you be prepared for that? Funding was up, awareness became national, stigma continued. Drugs became available but not before we lost so many. All we could do was provide intravenous therapy to treat a myriad of diseases. Again my family died, everyone touched by AIDS knew someone or many that died. I was in that business of providing those therapies and it was exhausting. All the doctor's and health care professionals, drivers that delivered the drugs to patients home were exhausted. I was exhausted. We were prepared to treat but were numb or lost due to grief. NOW we have traveled 30 years, we have rights; people are coming out early and live a life where AIDS exists. Research is running to the forefront, health care costs are through the roof. While MA numbers of new infections are on the decline. Results are now showing that the average life expectancy of a person with AIDS is about 25 years some respond very well to therapies, cocktails and drugs far distant from AZT. But results also show after those on treatments of many years, where T-cells are high, undetectable viral loads we are now seeing and was just reported yesterday by http://NATAP.org that "AIDS Virus May Accelerate Aging, Median Age of HIV Patients Approaches 50-Heart attacks out of the blue, bottom-scraping testosterone levels, nerve damage and bone-withering osteoporosis are not regarded as the normal fate of a man in his 40s or early 50s. Many researchers and physicians believe supported by growing evidence that aging is accelerated in HIV patients. However, where to lay the blame is still under investigation. Aging in HIV patients has been attributed to the ongoing presence of the latent virus which is not completed eradicated by drug treatment to side effects of the treatment itself, and to the high prevalence of conventional risk factors for unhealthy aging among the HIV-infected population. As people live longer with HIV infection, we see chronic health conditions such as heart disease, bone loss, cancers and kidney disease show up 10 or more years earlier than what is typical for someone without HIV," Hare says. "Our goal with this grant (There is Grant money out there we just have o FIGHT for it) is to assemble the right health care team to meet the unique health care needs of the growing number of people who are aging with HIV." "There's no question that a lot of the HIV-caused immune damage is reversed by treatment," Deeks says. Levels of CD4+ cells often return to normal in successfully treated patients, and the virus frequently becomes undetectable in the blood, even as it hides out in a latent state in some cells. But in many patients, immune system function does not completely return to normal, he says. Rates of virus-induced cancers, such as anal or cervical cancers caused by human papilloma virus, and Kaposi's sarcoma, caused by a herpes virus, are much higher among the HIV-positive." This is the TIP of the ICE BERG. THIS IS WHY AAC EXISTS AND NEEDS $$$$$. We continue to educate on prevention, intervention, compliance and adherence to medications. Participate in trials. Of which many of the above are ambivalent to become involved. But, the trials are necessary. Those that do participate are giving a "GIFT". It may not work for YOU but may save ANOTHERS Life. But, as we care for those people living longer & educate and treat the young with AIDS cost of care rises beyond just HIV treatment. HIV is a very democratic disease and we must meet the African American community who has its own issues to provide treatment. THE BAND MUST KEEP PLAYING. Bravo again to AAC. As I have discovered over these past few months that this organization, not unlike others, but still focused on MASSACHUSETTS is tirelessly continue to stay ahead of legislation, funding and provision of a myriad of services. We are now treating both the young and aging AIDS population. We must continue to applaud the living with DIGNITY. FORGIVE MY PONTIFICATION. Maybe I used this venue to vent last Sunday? But I will do everything I can to support all with DIGNITY and compassion and am proud of AAC and look forward to join its volunteer force. I don't play an instrument but I will carry the drum--I will join the AAC Band. Forgive please my lack of brevity

June 5th is the 30th anniversary of the first cases of HIV being diagnosed - I was 18 years old. For all intents and purposes, my adult life has always known HIV, although it didn't have a name until 1986. In 30 years I have lost dear close friends too numerous to mention. All lost so early in their lives, it frightens me to think what they might have accomplished or who they could have touched had they had the chance. I see other friends who grapple, some more than others, every day to manage and maintain their health. Some of whom have the daily ritual of medication schedules to adhere to, others who do not, but do not go through one day without self monitoring themselves, wondering what lies ahead. I walk because there is an end in sight - and I walk to remember my friends.

As a 53-year-old, I have known a world without AIDS, albeit briefly. In 1986, I did a research paper on AIDS and was shocked at how little had been written about it. Then in 1990, while volunteering at AAC, I met my very best friend, Mark, who died just five years later at the age of 37. The following year, my friend Tom died at age 30, just as the news came from the Vancouver conference that drug cocktails were indeed effective. Today, I have friends who thrive with the disease, but it's a delicate balance. Thank you, AAC, for all that you do to make the world a better place - your efforts to educate, prevent, and care.

This is my second year running in the Larry Kessler 5K Race, in Boston. I have not been personally affected by the disease. However, I do feel it is important to do something outside of myself. I run for those who want to run but couldn't, I run for those who want to run but can't, and I run for every single person out there who is affected by this disease. I run for the person who has the disease, or for their family who loves them. I run for you. I run because I can.
Love, Cathy xo

The walk was great

Being the first year I have participated in it, it was really something spiritual for me. Some many of my kin have passed away to this terrible disease in the community. Not only did I walk for the souls I never knew that are no longer with us, but also those who are with us as well, because I care about AIDS and the pain it brings about our community.
When I was born, AIDS was still new and scary to those in our community. Many of us were getting so sick without a rhyme or reason. All the efforts that have been made, and to those putting action to making sure this tragedy lessons, mean so much.
I look forward to again taking part in the AIDS Walk, and hopefully by then I would also have begun volunteering for the Boston Living Center.
Thank you AIDS Action!

For me, AIDS Walk Boston is about paying tribute to the thousands of people that have lost their lives, my Uncle being one of them. I started working at AAC because I knew the effects firsthand. It's been 20 years, so most of my life has been spent with an empty seat around the holiday table. My grandmother setting off balloons into the sky on his birthday, and all of us wondering what funny things Uncle Tom would be saying now. I don't think anyone should've had to suffer alone in an oversized hospital room because everyone was too afraid to get close or not received proper treatment because they didn't have the right guidance.
This day represents giving hope to those who still struggle with the stigma and prejudice of this disease. And it's also about giving thanks to our supporters and my amazing colleagues, who work tirelessly everyday to make sure we keep doing this work. I'm not sure if I can even fully express my gratitude. I know he'd be in awe of what we've done.

Like Dustin, I'm part of the "under 30" set and have always known of HIV/AIDS. Becoming an adult and having more life experiences and education has only made me grow more and more angry that this disease still exists. Knowing the roots of the social injustices, like disproportionate infection rates in minorities, the stigma surrounding an HIV or assumed HIV diagnosis, the fact that many living with HIV can expect to face poverty at some point in their lives, only makes me want to fight harder.
Someday, we will end HIV, and I want to be able to say that I played a part in it, along with some of the most compassionate and inspiring people I have ever met - from the staff at AIDS Action to every single walker, runner, and volunteer for the AIDS Walk & 5K Run!

I'm part of the "under 30 set" that doesn't know a world without AIDS. When I came out to my mother at 15, she said two things: "You're going to have a very sad, lonely life, and you'll die of AIDS." It sounds terrible, but she didn't mean it to be hurtful. She thought these were facts of life because of pervasive stereotypes about gay men. She didn't know any gays personally. As a 20-something, I've never known what it's like to be gay without being inexplicably tied to AIDS, and I think that's part of the reason that guys my age don't want to talk about it anymore. No community wants to "be" a disease. But the fact is most sexually active gay men are at increased risk. It's a health risk not unique but certainly more relevant to us than others. We have to talk about it. We have to face it. It is not us, but it is a part of us.