Enique, thank you for sharing his spirit with me today.  I think it is important to be reminded of the real people behind these numbers and statistics.

I agree the goal of 2015 seems unacceptable and what truth you speak of in regard to the pharmaceutical companies. A very good movie to see regarding the subject of the power behind these pharmaceutical companies is "The Constant Gardener.

*Hugs* Yes, we share a special connection. Your brother sounds like a wonderful man as was mine.  I know you loved him as I loved Scott. Another face to a number that so easily gets dismissed when the number does not represent somone we love. Thank you for sharing in my pain today, as I share in yours.  Thank you for sharing Stephen with us.

Thank you Di.  I know the numbers are overwhelming.

Denise,  

That was a beautiful tribute to your brother Scott.   You've done a wonderful job of sharing your memories of him and you should be proud.   I've not quite seen such a great virtual memorial before.   You've managed to give me a glimpse into his life and humor and some of your shared life memories.

It's nice to know he had a wonderful sister like you and that he was loved.   I'm so sorry for your loss, yet also so grateful to you for utilizing his memory for a cause that has been swept under the rug in our country.  

I'm sure this would have made Scott proud.

Love,

Wesley

I look forward to the day when it's the disease that's a distant memory instead of our loved ones. Your tribute to Scott was beautiful, and I'm sure you made him smile.

Together we can overcome this disease and the procrastination, politicing and lack of compassion that's lead us to where we are today. Let's make tomorrow better.

See my letter, "Farewell to AIDS"

Keep the light on!

I read your letter and I hope my friends will do the same.  Thank you for being a part of the solution.  Thank you for sharing in my memories of Scott today.

*Checking light* Yep, it's still on :)

*sigh* I miss uncle scott, what a funny guy he was. He always seemed to brighten the holidays, and they will never be the same, but we can remember him while we enjoy eachothers company because, essentially, he is with us.

And yes, 2015 is a long ways away which saddens me because it means many more deaths were not prevented . Still, we can only pray that the date will come sooner and that the deaths will end Until then, we pray, and hope and spread the love around.

Hi Sweetie! So glad you made it to my blog.  I agree the holidays will never be the same without Scott, but how wise you are to note we still have each other.  I think we all appreciate each member of the family more because we went through this experience together. I join you in prayer that the date to end this disease will come sooner so that other families may be spared the sorrow and loss our family has had to endure.

Love You,

Aunt Denise

I'm sorry for the loss of your brother Scott. I loss my Uncle to AIDS as well as my Stepson.  The drug cocktail did not extend their lives.

 However my kid has two friends that are HIV Positive for the past 17 years, They will never get the disease because they are carriers. Carrieres dont get the disease.

About 20 years ago when I had to help my daughter prepare an assignment for school (not Aids related) I sat down

as she perused through the books and  I found some interesting publications on a corner table. These publications stated that a cure was found for Aids but that the Pharmaceutical companies didnt want to sell it because they make more money from people's illnesses.I dont know how true this is but if the library had these publications on their end table maybe there is some truth to it. ***evelyn

Hi Evelyn, thank you for sharing my memories of Scott and for sharing the loss of your Uncle and Stepson.  Yet two more lives needlessly lost for a disease that is preventable.

I sure hope the story about the Pharmaceutical company is not true as it is very upsetting.

I also hope that it is not true but I think that it is , I have just heard it from too many sources, and for a public library to have that kind of info on their end table leads me to believe so. there is a ray of hope though. I did see on channel 13 public broadcasting a young man who had full blown Aids and he healed himself completely. He became vegetarian, consumed natural medicinal herb teas, fresh vegetable juices from a juicer, did yoga, meditation, biofeedback, visualizations, and took the Aids cocktail that they give everyone as well. This man fought like a real warrior and won and they interviewed him on television but it was many years ago.Unfortunately,  I couldnt help my uncle because he didnt know he had it and his death was unexpected because he didnt get sick except for one week, and I couldnt help my stepson because he was deaf mute, and difficult to communicate with, since I didnt know how to sign, he never grew up with us, my husbands kids were already adults when we married and lived on their own.

***Evelyn 

Well I do believe in the power of the mind, and it sounds like if it is caught early enough and the cocktial administered along with other healthy practices it can be beat.  My brother didn't know he was sick either.  He had tested negative five years prior to his falling ill and was celibate from that time on up until his death. Apparently the disease was still dormant in his system when he tested negative.  A good example of why it is important to get tested regularly even when one is not sexually active.