Today marks the 20th Anniversary of Ryan White's death.
Ryan White was a regular kid who did some extraordinary things in the face of great difficulties. He was diagnosed with Hemophilia whn he was just a baby. He struggled with bleeds throughout his life and at only 13 years of age he was diagnosed with HIV from contaminated blood.
I can't imagine how difficult this must of been for a 13 year old boy to comprehend. Not only did he have his own emotions to deal with but people around him didn't understand HIV and he was banned from going to school and treated horribly by his community and the people he once called friends.
Ryan was not the only hemophiliac to be infected with HIV. I have read that about 50% of the Hemophiliac population was infected with hepatitis C or HIV during the contaminated blood scandle in the 1980's.
Many families had to watch their children suffer and deteriorate and die. It is absolutely heart breaking.
Ryan White tried to raise awareness about the disase all while keeping a smile on his face. I think he is a great role model. I think it's important for not only the hemophilia coommunity to
remember him but for everyone.
For more information about Ryan White visit www.ryanwhite.com
Hey Ryanne,
ReplyDeleteMy cousin Justin was a hemophiliac and died of HIV when he was 18 back in 1992. His Uncle is also a hemophiliac and has been living with HIV for nearly 20 years or more. He has been very lucky.
I know! its a terrible disease and back then it was even worse! I am so sorry you lost your cousin! The only good thing that came out of that is that the Canadian Hemophilia Society monitors the blood system to make sure nothing like that ever happens again!
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