A read a story about a man named Terry Boyd. He is actually from Idaho and wrote about his last year, at the age of 38, battling AIDS. Terry is pretty graphic in his writing about how AIDS has taken over his body and the normal, day-to-day hardships that he would face with a T-cell count of 10. He is documenting everything that goes on his body and mind so that those missionaries that work with people who are HIV positive can get a more in-depth understanding of the people they are working with.
Terry wrote something in his story that really caught my attention. He wrote, "Why is it, for example, that many of those actively involved in AIDS support services are the ones who have lost someone or know someone who has AIDS? I guess it is understandable. People are afraid." (Boyd, 1989) Terry was certainly on to something. A lot of times, AIDS has to affect someone dearest to us before we really want to get involved. If it wasn't for this class, I probably wouldn't have a spark in me to help others who are HIV positive.
I wish there was some way, other than watching a family member or a friend become infected with HIV, to get more people in this world or nation to want to fight against AIDS. Maybe people view AIDS as something that they have to “see it to believe it” in order to want to help the cause.
Terry’s statement really challenged me to want to get out there and support some type of AIDS service. I don’t want people with HIV or AIDS to think that I am afraid of them. Hopefully, some of you will feel the same way that I do.
Source:
Boyd, T. (March, 1989). “Living With AIDS: A Personal Journey”. Global Ministries. Retrieved September 21, 2010 from http://new.gbgm-umc.org/resources/worship/aids/stories/livingwithaidsapersonaljourney/
Did You Know?
Taking medications routinely are vital for child battling HIV. "Medicines that fight infections cannot work if they are not taken correctly. When a child or teen misses a dose, or if they stop early, HIV can mutate, or change, to survive the medicine." (HIVinfosource, 2010)
Source:
HIVInfoSource. (January, 2010). "Children and HIV". Retreived on September 22, 2010 from http://www.hivinfosource.org/hivis/hivbasics/children/.
I believe that there is something in most people’s beliefs and psychologies that enable them to distance themselves from the troubles of others. I guess that it is kind of a self preservation system that we enact to spare ourselves the stress and emotional turmoil that accompany loss and death. No one hopes for the day when their mother or father takes their last breath. Or perhaps the day their child, spouse or friend meets their end. Humanity as a whole always fears death and the unknown. We try to tell ourselves I won’t happen to us because we cannot take the idea of the horror or suffering that may accompany such a situation. All we can do is love; love unconditionally. Only through love, understanding, and education can we change the hearts and minds of humanity.
ReplyDeleteHe most certainly on to something! I enjoyed reading your blog. On a different note but still sticking with missions, I have said for years that missions will never really impact a believer until they go and experience it for themselves. See the faces. Laugh and cry with those on the other side of the planet where talking about God and Jesus are illegal (earning you a quick trip home and canceled VISA). Me and my wife have experienced this many times, and would you be surprised our hearts are into missions? Or surprised we want to move overseas? Same with people with HIV, when you or one experiences it around you it really makes it tangible.
ReplyDeleteAndrew Gleason
Most childhood HIV medications in liquid form taste nasty. Even some of the pills have to be disguised in apple sauce or whip cream to hide the taste.
ReplyDeleteOne of the reasons I have you do the simulations is so that you get a very small taste of what it would be like to have HIV. Walk a mile in someone's shoes and you can say you understand some of what they may be feeling.