30 Years of HIV/AIDS
Like an evil crimson beast, absorbing the Light of many, it rages across the land where there are no barriers of gender, race, color, status or age…HIV/AIDS has brought times of bereavement, stigma and incredible fear to people of the world.
I remember my first patient, it was in the later half of 1981…early 1982, there wasn’t even a medical ‘name’ assigned to his condition. The outpatient lab I worked in was shutdown just for him…I was, as was everyone in contact with him, required to wear a gown over my lab coat, two masks, two pairs of gloves and the tables and treatment chairs…the entire area, were covered in blue liquid-proof pads (chux). After he left, the entire room was thoroughly cleaned with industry strength disinfectant. There were no effective treatments and all about this new disease was just completely unknown. It all seemed so inhumane…the disease, ‘cautions’, the separations of personal contact…even family and friends of those infected…the fear…yet it was real and very present in the lives of many people. Thousands of people had began dying from it. It wouldn’t even be given a name until 1982…acquired immune deficiency syndrome: AIDS, and in 1986 it would be renamed: HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)…and in 1985…a blood test to detect the presence of HIV was discovered. Today, more than 60 million people have been infected with HIV, and 2.6 million are newly infected each year and last year alone, an estimated 430,000 babies around the world were born HIV infected! Ignorance, complacency and decreased awareness about HIV/AIDS is one of the main causes for infections.
We began seeing more and more patients with AIDS…and they started coming in from all over the world for treatment and care. In the beginning, there were mostly men but soon after, women…families…with the most innocent of all…children began visiting our clinic. In the early times of HIV/AIDS…most afflicted with this virus died in a year or so from complications. As a Medical Technologist caregiver…it was very difficult to absorb, to witness what my patients, their families, and friends were going through. You cannot help but become ‘involved’ in the emotions of it all, and wanting to help somehow, some way. I was, and have been blessed to have met the most incredible and courageous of people from all walks of life…hope and faith was (is) plentiful even amongst the fear of it all with this evil crimson beast known as HIV/AIDS. I also have been blessed to have worked with some of the most brilliant men and women in the medical field and have been able to volunteer for incredibly lifting and important Foundations in research and fundraising for the elimination of HIV/AIDS.
One of my favorite philanthropic foundations is the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) which was founded in 1988 by an incredible woman who is above and beyond the ‘definition’ of ‘hero’…Elizabeth Glaser. She brought hope and change for children and families around the world with her undaunted, unflagged efforts and achievements in aiding the scientific community in their research for mother-to-child transmission and drug studies for children! She turned an incredible family tragedy into a positive mission, a philosophy and a way of ‘being’ that fits into every aspect of being human and how we can and must live together to unite ourselves as one. Her mission of hope and of being the change that you want to see in the world is of most importance in today’s society, now more than ever. Through research, advocacy, and prevention and treatment programs, the EGPAF has tremendously improved the lives of millions…especially in the preventable area of mother-to-child transmission, an amazing gift and contribution to our world.
One of my favorite quotes of hers:
“If we can share our wisdom, our light, our love in the smallest of way – I know the world will be a better place. If we are not afraid to touch each others lives, hope will be our strength and love our prize.’ Elizabeth Glaser
It’s a philosophy we can all embody is so many ways!
The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation is a global leader in pediatric research and has received a top rating from the American Institute of Philanthropy and the “Best ” among many other accolades and achievements.
It’s now been 30 years and since then, we have seen remarkable changes since the first symptom appeared (although the first possible recording of AIDS was in 1955!). It is now a ‘chronic condition’ thanks to the incredible, tireless efforts of the scientific community and their dedication to research, the discovery of a hopeful and helpful gene and the studies where remarkably effective drug cocktails are now available to keep the virus ‘in control.’ Life expectancy is no longer a shortened span, and instead people with HIV are living longer, healthy, productive lives.
There have been recent advances toward a vaccine and new breakthroughs in treatment and prevention of HIV and the discovery and study of the gene CCR5-delta 32 (Delta 32), a gene that creates a code for a protein on the surface of white blood cells which turns off the Delta-32’s ‘receptors, it makes a person resistant or immune to certain viruses because they cannot latch onto the receptors. If you have two parents with this gene, then you are virtually immune to HIV, with one copy of the mutated gene, you would be resistant to it. Gene therapy is a real possibility for the elimination of HIV.
The progress we have made has been tremendous, however, the fight isn’t over yet, and we must not continue to be so complacent about HIV. It is a virus ever present in our world and despite the public health warnings and prevention campaigns, the number of newly infected people each year has remained steady. Awareness, education, especially in the school system and fundraisers for support of research, treatment and caring for those infected, and most notably in under developed countries, is still vitally needed even though the outlook for someone with a newly diagnosed HIV infection is more ‘positive’ than ever before.
Be supportive…volunteer, conduct a fundraiser, …help in making a difference, keeping the awareness about HIV/AIDS in the public eye so that one day soon…we can eradicate HIV/AIDS from the world!
Be the Change YOU want to see in the world!
Estimated Number of Diagnoses of HIV Infection, 2009
|
AGE
|
Estimated Number of Diagnoses of HIV Infection, 2009
|
|---|---|
|
Under 13
|
166
|
|
Ages 13-14
|
21
|
|
Ages 15-19
|
2,036
|
|
Ages 20-24
|
6,237
|
|
Ages 25-29
|
5,951
|
|
Ages 30-34
|
5,020
|
|
Ages 35-39
|
5,232
|
|
Ages 40-44
|
5,519
|
|
Ages 45-49
|
4.865
|
|
Ages 50-54
|
3,323
|
|
Ages 55-59
|
2,004
|
|
Ages 60-64
|
900
|
|
Ages 65 or older
|
736
|
A Few Statistics
HIV can be transmitted in the sexual fluids, blood or breast milk of an infected person. HIV prevention therefore involves a wide range of activities including prevention of mother-to-child transmission, needle exchange programs and the risk can also be reduced, through the correct and consistent use of condoms.
The statistics on HIV is still very real, very present in our society…here are few ‘numbers’ for you from the CDC:
As of December 2009:
More than 25 million people have died from complications of HIV/AIDS.
The number of people living with HIV in the United States: 561,886
The newly diagnosed stats with today’s youth being the highest infected population:
For more information on HIV/AIDS please visit these websites:
In The Absence of Angels – Elizabeth Glaser
Elizabeth Glaser chronicled her experience, her emotions, in an incredible autobiography in 1991, “In the Absence of Angels”. In it she gives a moving, detailed look into her family’s struggle with HIV/AIDS. Please take the time to read it.
In 1981, while giving birth to her daughter, Ariel, she was transfused with several units of blood, all of which were later determined to be contaminated with HIV. Four years later, Ariel developed AIDS from breastfeeding, Elizabeth and her son, Jake, were also infected, only her husband, Paul Michael Glaser remained uninfected.
Elizabeth, sick herself, gives an incredible moving account of Ariel’s illness and death as she lobbied Capitol Hill for funding and pediatric clinical trials of AZT in an effort to save her still-healthy son, Jake and give hope to all HIV infected children in the world.
In The absence of Angels is an incredible journey and an inspirational read of what any ONE can do to make a difference for others!
Available on Ebay
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In the Absence of Angels Glaser & Palmer 1991 Hardback
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In the Absence of Angels by Elizabeth Glaser, Laura …
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Available at Amazon
by Elizabeth Glaser
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Amazon Price: $15.99
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Tags: 30 Years of HIV/ADIS, Elizabeth Glaser, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
On Blogging and Shared Thoughts | Pam | 
June 5, 2011 4:43 pm
By Kate, June 6, 2011 @ 1:14 am
thank you so much for this important information. I confess that I asked many questions about this, and because of what I read, I learned. I learned how the virus is transmitted, the discoveries, and especially the hope of finally eradicating this scourge. Now I’ll think about how to act, to assist and support the foundation. Thank you again.
By Pam, June 6, 2011 @ 7:36 am
You’re very welcome, Kate…
Hope IS on the horizon!
By hilly, June 6, 2011 @ 8:10 am
Excellent work Pam….if this site can continue if only to keep people aware of the facts and not the nonsense that is still written and spread about AIDS it will be a good thing.
By Pam, June 6, 2011 @ 8:20 am
Thank you, Hilly…
Yes indeed…it is amazing that there is still such ‘nonsense,’ complacency and misinformation about AIDS out there.
By Nadine, June 6, 2011 @ 11:38 am
Merci Pammy !!! je suis ok avec Hilly ! et j’ajoute que sans toi nous ne serions pas au courrant de toutes ces informations ! sans toi nous n’aurions pas la chance de nous connaitre virtuellement ! MERCI!!!!!
By lidia, June 6, 2011 @ 11:26 pm
merci pour les explications qui sont très importantes,en France ont à tendance a oublié le sujet. Et ayant un enfant qui à treize ans, ceci me fait prendre conscience qu’il faut informé de plus en plus,et je vous remercie pour ce que vous faite,et je vais adhérer à l association. Merci…
By hilly, June 7, 2011 @ 1:57 am
In french then in English
J’irais plus loin lidia et Nadine: en France il y une resistance à accepter les recherches et les découvertes faits par les autres d’ou le scandal dy sang contaminé (le dépistage exista déjà mais l’Institut Pasteur fut sur le point d’ne faire un autre donc les test ‘Abbot’ ne fut pas utilisé et les personnes en sont mortes) C’est peut-être suite des rivatité entre Montaigner et Gallo – je m’n fou de ça! C’est aussie vrai sue l’one entend rien du travail d’EGPAF en Afrique – la ‘France-Afrique des fois) et encore moins du ‘beautiful gene’ (mutation génetique qui sauve les vies. Ce n’est que dans le 2 ou 3 derniers ans que la France dit qu’on peut éviter la transmission mère enfant….en effet il ya quelques annèes (suite des découvertes de l’action AZT pour empecher la transmission) que l’idée de dépister d’office les femmes enceintes fut rejeté par MMe Veil (Ministre à l’époque) potrant une championne des droits de la femme – son argument ‘invasion de la vie privée!)
DEpuis on a fait du progrès mais les séropositifs sont toujours les pariahs dans le monde du travailet quand ils on besoin d’assurer la voiture, la maison etc
I’d go further; France has always resisted the results of research that isn’t home-grown. This is why there was a scandal of ‘contaminated blood’ (Ministers and other health officials ended standing trial for Manslaughter) because the Institut Pasteur was on the verge of developing its own test so the Abbott test wasn’t used to check blood and HIV+ was given to hemophiliacs- as one Dr. said ‘they’d have died anyway!)Perhaps this comes from the rivalry between Montaigner and Gallo frankly I don’t give a ***
Despite France’s influence in Africa we rarely hear about the work EGPAF does there; and i is only very recently that the medical authorites started to talk of preventing mother-child infection (things we knew!) In part this was because when the effects of AST in this field were first known a proposition to autmoatically test pregnant women was rejected by the then Minister (and Women’s Rights Champion and Holocaust survivor- you’d think she would have known better!) Simone Veil…on the grounds that it was an invasion of privacy!
We still hear nothing about ‘the beautiful gene’ and despite France proclaiming itself to be ‘the home of human rights’ HIV+ people are still subject to discrimination at work and with insurance (for a car; for a mortgage…..)
One last thing in French
lidia EGPAF n’a pas de statut lègal en France et malheureusement il n’existe aucun équivalent!
and in English
EGPAF has no legal status in France – we can’t raise money for it, for example, – and there is no equivalent either!
By Pam, June 11, 2011 @ 9:39 pm
“If we can share our wisdom, our light, our love in the smallest of way – I know the world will be a better place. If we are not afraid to touch each others lives, hope will be our strength and love our prize.’ Elizabeth Glaser
By Pandra, June 18, 2011 @ 7:11 am
I remember first becoming aware of AIDS as an ambulance attendant back in the late ’70s. We were told to wear gloves and to be careful not to get anybody’s blood on us. It was scary, but most of us went right on with our jobs. Today I work in a public school in the inner city and there are HIV-positive children, but we are not told which ones are HIV-positive and that we should be careful of any blood. I still put bandaids on the kids when they have a cut, and I try to be as caring as I know how.
Elizabeth’s book is the saddest and most inspiring story I have ever read. I don’t know how she had the strength to do what she did-not just the activism, but the grace and courage to remain an optimistic and kind person in the face of so much adversity. The lesson Elizabeth taught me is that you can’t let yourself get bitter when life is bad, and if you keep love in your heart, you can still find happiness in the world. God bless you, Elizabeth, and Ariel and Jake and Paul too.
By Pam, December 1, 2011 @ 12:41 am
World AIDS Day is celebrated today, December 1, each year around the world. It has become one of the most recognized international health days. It’s and opportunity to raise awareness, to honor family, friends, all those who have passed on from complications of AIDS, We ALL must continue to help increase consciousness, give from our heart….compassion, understanding, and recognize the responsibility needed as we continue to fight HIV/AIDS.
Take action…Call to action, on this World AIDS Day and make an effort to help provide the world an opportunity as individuals, communities and political leaders in taking action to ensure that human rights are protected and global targets for HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care and the cure we seek are met!
As I always have in the past, I continue to celebrate the life and Light of Elizabeth Glaser, an incredible woman, a mother who is above and beyond the ‘definition’ of ‘hero’…She brought hope and change for children and families around the world with her undaunted, unflagged efforts and achievements in aiding the scientific community in their research against mother-to-child transmission and for improved drug studies for children! She turned an incredible family tragedy into a positive mission, a philosophy and a way of ‘being’ that fits into every aspect of being human and how we can and must live together to unite ourselves as one.
Her mission of hope and of being the change that you want to see in the world is of most importance in today’s society, now more than ever. Through research, advocacy, and prevention and treatment programs, the EGPAF has tremendously improved the lives of millions…especially in the preventable area of mother-to-child transmission, an amazing gift of love from her pure, genuine heart, and an incredible, priceless contribution to our world.
One of my favorite quotes of hers:
“If we can share our wisdom, our light, our love in the smallest of way – I know the world will be a better place. If we are not afraid to touch each others lives, hope will be our strength and love our prize.’ Elizabeth Glaser
Check out a new site of The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
http://amothersfight.org/