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AIDS, still with us like the sword of Damocles and the scythe of death. Had a cousin die from AIDS in 1994 just as the then new lifesaving drug cocktails were introduced. He contracted AIDS in 1985 from a combination of promiscuity and drug use. He was symptom free until 1993. Doctors wanted to use him in a study because he was symptom free so long, he refused. I can remember when he told the family of his AIDS status in 1986. Many in the entire family were fearful going near him, as they thought you could contract AIDS like Tuberculosis or the Flu. I also remember visiting him at his mother’s house and my cousin reaching out to hug me. They were mortified, I was not. I thought at the time, if there is a heaven or afterlife how could I face my grandfather and great grandparents for turning my back on a close relative in such a cruel manner. They would have never forgiven me, besides I’m a compassionate and empathetic person to begin with, so my cousin got his hug. I’ll never forget that fall in 1993 when we had a family picnic and my cousin was covered by the lesions of Karposi. Tell tale lesions that look like 3-D pink, red, blue and purple bruises on the surface of the skin and just below the skin. My cousin kept mostly to himself and looked very sad. Months later he was bedridden at home and would only see and talk with his mother and siblings. He did not want anyone else seeing him at all. When I approached him through his cracked open door, he told me to remember him when were kids and he didn’t want anyone seeing how bad he looked. He finally went to hospice care in 1994. During his time in hospice care, my cousin was in and out of consciousness, and I was told by his siblings that he was unrecognizable because his face had become distorted from severe swelling. Some gals who use to sell him drugs tried to get him to snort some cocaine and as they put it “go for the light !” Needless to say his siblings chased them out. Some so called “christian” members of our extended family and a brother of his that was a holy roller said he would burn in hell. And were they upset when he was given a proper funeral at the Catholic church his mother attended. The crisis isn’t over yet, and a full cure for AIDS has yet to be found. -Rj
AIDS, still with us like the sword of Damocles and the scythe of death.
ReplyDeleteHad a cousin die from AIDS in 1994 just as the then new lifesaving drug cocktails were introduced.
He contracted AIDS in 1985 from a combination of promiscuity and drug use.
He was symptom free until 1993.
Doctors wanted to use him in a study because he was symptom free so long, he refused.
I can remember when he told the family of his AIDS status in 1986. Many in the entire family were fearful going near him, as they thought you could contract AIDS like Tuberculosis or the Flu.
I also remember visiting him at his mother’s house and my cousin reaching out to hug me. They were mortified, I was not. I thought at the time, if there is a heaven or afterlife how could I face my grandfather and great grandparents for turning my back on a close relative in such a cruel manner. They would have never forgiven me, besides I’m a compassionate and empathetic person to begin with, so my cousin got his hug. I’ll never forget that fall in 1993 when we had a family picnic and my cousin was covered by the lesions of Karposi. Tell tale lesions that look like 3-D pink, red, blue and purple bruises on the surface of the skin and just below the skin. My cousin kept mostly to himself and looked very sad. Months later he was bedridden at home and would only see and talk with his mother and siblings. He did not want anyone else seeing him at all. When I approached him through his cracked open door, he told me to remember him when were kids and he didn’t want anyone seeing how bad he looked. He finally went to hospice care in 1994. During his time in hospice care, my cousin was in and out of consciousness, and I was told by his siblings that he was unrecognizable because his face had become distorted from severe swelling. Some gals who use to sell him drugs tried to get him to snort some cocaine and as they put it “go for the light !” Needless to say his siblings chased them out.
Some so called “christian” members of our extended family and a brother of his that was a holy roller said he would burn in hell. And were they upset when he was given a proper funeral at the Catholic church his mother attended.
The crisis isn’t over yet, and a full cure for AIDS has yet to be found.
-Rj
Rj - That's quite a story. Thank you for sharing it.
DeleteAs usual, we're on our own and must take care of each other.
ReplyDeleteThanks to advances in science, it is now possible to live much healthier lives than at the beginning of the AIDS pandemic.
ReplyDelete