Keeps getting Real

Every week this class challenges my mind and my thinking. It always makes me wonder what if I had HIV and was living with it. How would I tell my family and would I even tell my friends or the person I'm involved with? It even takes me to real life situations of me having HIV and wanting to donate an organ to a family member and the doctors not let you. One day I would like to have children and this weeks question got me thinking because something like that could happen. Kids are going to be kids and they are going to bite each other and not think about it because that's what they do. As a parent I am sure it would be difficult to put your child in any school always knowing that something could happen and the principal or teachers think that the other children could be infected. Many of those thoughts are ignorance and that's where the parents need to educate the principal and the teachers. There is still in the back of your mind what if the other parents find out will they outcast your family and your child and not let them play with their kids. HIV is a disease that is never easy for anyone. Although now there are drugs that help you live longer it doesn't change the way people treat you and they way people look at you.


DID YOU KNOW........

Black and Hispanic women made up 83 percent of reported AIDS diagnoses among women, although they represent only 25 percent of all women, according to Fraser-Howze's New York-based commission. AIDS is among the three top causes of death for black women ages 35 to 44.

The Washington Post (February 7, 2005) U.S. HIV Cases Soaring Among Black Women. Retrieved October 28, 2009 from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3318-2005Feb6.html

I'm Back!

What a crazy few weeks this has been. Sorry for not posting weekly but I was dropped from the class by financial aid....you know not enough money...anyway I'm back! I see that I have missed two good qotws but it's ok because I really enjoyed this one. I saw the episode of Private Practice that our weekly question is about and I have to admit that as I was watching it I thought that would be a great question of the week and if it isn't I am definitely going to put it in my blog. I thought the story of those two sisters was very touching. The sister that wanted to donate her kidney to her sister was a survivor of domestic violence and the sister that was sick was all that she had left to help her raise her kids. I understand why she wanted to give her sister the transplant because her being there for her was extremely important. I honestly don't think it's a bad thing to receive an organ from someone that is HIV+ especially if both parties are receptive. I know that doctors want to stop the spread of HIV, but even if it means saving a life? Maybe we should rethink some things in the medical community.

DID YOU KNOW........
African Americans have the highest AIDS case rate per 100,000 population of all ethnic/racial groups--66.4 per 100,000 population compared with 8.2 for whites.

National AIDS Education and Services for Minorities. HIV/AIDS Statistics. Retrieved October 21, 2009 from http://www.naesmonline.org/hiv_aidstats.htm