Remembering Ryan White- His Mother Speaks Out
Remembering Ryan White – Ryan's mother speaks about HIV/AID Awareness (Video)
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View all »On Friday, Jeanne White-Ginder, Ryan White’s mother, is one of three speakers participating in "AIDS Education: 20 Years After Ryan White," a commemorative event at IU Bloomington that both honors Ryan White's influence on AIDS/HIV education and anti-discrimination efforts and offers an update on other such efforts in the U.S.
“I'm so excited that IU is doing this," said Jeanne White Ginder, Ryan White's mother. "Ryan was hoping so much to go to IU, and now he will be an everlasting part of the university."
Indiana University's Rural Center for AIDS/STD Prevention and the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation have established the Ryan White Legacy Scholarship in honor of Ryan White, the rural Indiana 13-year-old who contracted HIV through tainted blood products given for his hemophilia. (insideindianabusiness)
Ryan wanted to be a typical 13 yr. old boy. He wanted to ride a bike, have friends and play outside. He wanted to be able to go to school most of all. He was barred in 1985 from Western Middle School near Kokomo school due to the ignorance of the time and the way of thinking.
He was spit on and called names. Barred from public school. Shunned by former classmates and teachers. On more than one occasion, the family's home near Kokomo Indiana was the target ofgunshots. Communities drained swimming pools. Grocers tossed out produce. Anything or anyone that might come in contact with a person who had this deadly disease known by the strange acronym -- AIDS -- was feared to be potentially contaminated.
Compassion and understanding often gave way to terror and scorn, in great part because AIDS was most closely associated with gay sex and IV drug use. Some even saw it as a punishment from God.
"There was a stereotype of HIV victims at the time, that they were evil incarnate," said former Indiana Health Commissioner Dr. Woodrow "Woody" Myers. "Ryan showed that was not the case." (Indystar.com)
"There was a stereotype of HIV victims at the time, that they were evil incarnate," said former Indiana Health Commissioner Dr. Woodrow "Woody" Myers. "Ryan showed that was not the case." (Indystar.com)
But there was another side to Ryan's story -- an almost magical counter to the hatred and turmoil. Celebrities such as Elton John, Elizabeth Taylor and Michael Jackson came to his aid. They still keep in touch with his mother supporting her advocacy in the field. Elton John will preform at the Indianapolis Childrens Museum. A Ryan White Benefit will be held April 28 at Clowes Hall. to honor the 20th Anniversay. Proceeds will be used for The Children's Museum's "Power of Children" exhibit and the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Tickets are on sale now.(AP)
Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act (Ryan White Care Act, Ryan White.
Enacted August 18, 1990) was an Act of the U.S. Congress named in honor of Ryan White, an Indiana teenager who contracted AIDS through a tainted hemophilia treatment in 1984, and was expelled from school because of the disease. White became a well-known advocate for AIDS research and awareness, until his death on April 8, 1990. It has been called America's most important step in fighting the AIDS epidemic, helping thousands annually.
The act is the United States's largest federally funded program for people living with HIV/AIDS. The act sought funding to improve availability of care for low-income, uninsured and under-insured victims of AIDS and their families. Unlike Medicare or Medicaid, Ryan White programs are "payer of last resort," which fund treatment when no other resources are available. As AIDS has spread, the funding of the program has increased. In 1991, the first year funds were appropriated, around $220 million were spent; by the early 2000s, this number had almost increased 10-fold. (aidsabout.com)
In 2009, Congress passed the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act which was signed by President Obama on October 30, 2009. This bill extends the Ryan White Care Act for an additional four years. This young man was such a pioneer and gentle soul...an old soul that did so much in his short time here for so many. Peace
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All articles by Wendi Swindell are under copyright and cannot be reposted in part or completely without written permission by the author. For permission, email wnmtr@hotmail.com
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