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Young Canadians with HIV learn to live and love

JILL MAHONEY

From Saturday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 3:07 PM EST 06/08/06

No one ever expected a child with HIV to become a teenager. Now there's a host of unforeseen issues adding to the angst of teens growing up HIV positive ...Read the full article

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  1. Nathan Cool from Vancouver, Canada writes: I remember reading some very bigoted comments posted on this site (almost exclusively from Alberta) in response to Harper's snubbing of the World AIDS conference. The majority of the comments basically read 'they deserve to die for being gay'. Besides the obviously disgusting anti-gay message, it was also a slap in the face to people like those in this excellent article. I hope the people that wrote those hateful words will read this article and see themselves for the bigots they are, and change.
  2. Helen Pettingill from Ontario, Canada writes: Wow, what a story. I never really gave those kids much thought before. It's good they're taught to be open about it with others - potential partners most importantly. That is absolutely essential. Those kids must learn that it's the only right thing to do. Parents of those kids must keep the doors of communication wide open as well. It's a life long, chronic challenge & maybe a sign of the times but nothing is more important than teaching these kids to be honest with their sexual partners. And those who do deserve a medal for their bravery. It can't be easy for a young teen. It doesn't help that it was not even their fault that they contracted the disease in the first place. Thank God for modern medicine which allows them to live somewhat normal lives. Twenty years ago, they wouldn't have been so lucky.
  3. Job of the book from Canada writes: I think that's a great story, and very sweet and I'm happy they're able to do something for these kids. I'm even happier that they're having lives and getting along pretty normally. I'm also kind of proud that we live in a time where people (granted... not all, but some) are ok with talking about it and even dealing with it and it's losing its stigma. Hopefully one day the human race will find a way to destroy viruses like we do with bacteria and then we can cure these horrible ailments. Now if only we could also work on the world peace thing. The sad thing is... it's such a tall order but if the human race banded together I bet it could be done. Alas... we are not all such noble creatures... in fact... I don't think any of us are.
  4. Glenn Hawley from Calgary, Canada writes: Actually, Nathan (#1) I, too, read the comments regarding Harper's non-appearance at some AIDS conference, but the majority of the posters who supported Harper more or less said 'Why should the PM take time to go to a conference for a disease that affects such a tiny minority of Canadians?'. It's not bigotry to admit that the majority of Canadians are at no risk whatsoever of contracting HIV. Face the truth: if you're neither a needle junky nor a sodomite, you're not likely to catch HIV... and are vastly more likely to die of heart disease, cancer, or automobile accident.
  5. joe vancouver from Canada writes: 'almost exclusively from Alberta' - who is the bigot again? Why do you paint a whole province - filled with people of varying political and ideological backgrounds - with one brush?
  6. Darcy Day from Canada writes: According to the CDC the failure rate for condoms is 12%. This means 'Logan' is doing the equivalent of jumping out of an airplane, let's say 3 times a week over and over for years and EVERY SINGLE TIME there is a ONE IN TEN chance the parachute won't open. Would you keep jumping with those odds? Would you want YOUR son to keep on jumping? I hope Logan's parents find out about this, and give him the 'many more fish in the sea' speech. Very sad for Billie Jo, I wish her health and long life but they are playing a dangerous game of russian roulette.
  7. livin' in T.O. from Canada writes: Our Prime Minister should read this article. These teens are his future constituency, and will undoubtedly live long enough to cast votes for a leader who won't ignore the fact that AIDS is a global issue. Harper should be ashamed of himself. What does he need, a photo-op?
  8. Richard Ball from Charlottetown PEI, Canada writes: AIDS is largely spread through sexual promiscuity -- which this article tacitly condones. Faithfulness to a single partner for life is good for ones health, for society, and for children. But this is a message that Canadians simply do not want to hear.
  9. Jennifer DeVries from Toronto, Canada writes: What a powerful article. The bravery of these youth is astounding. I hope that hosting the International Aids Conference will help to educate people here in Toronto, and also all of Canada, that this is a disease that does not discriminate. Straight, gay, black, white... it doesn't choose based on those criteria.
  10. Alina Aban from Fredericton, Canada writes: I don't think I'm exceptionally ignorant when I say that I'm surprized HIV-positive people can have sex without putting their partners at risk. Condoms fail, even when used properly. Not only can they brake, but they can also slip off without the partners realizing. I personally had this experience three times in a single year, even will all the education and precautions. Sex educators will often say that condoms are 'safer' sex but not necessarily 'safe' sex. I wish the journalist had explained the statement about healthy sex lives in a little more detail.
  11. Jim **** from Alberta, Canada writes: #1, you seem to have some stereotyping issues of your own. A bigot is a bigot, and where they come from is is irrelevant. I'm sick of being stereotyped by where I come from.
  12. Tracey Loston from Calgary, Canada writes: My heart goes out to those kids - what a difficult experience to have at such a vulnerable time. To #1 Nathan Cool - please realize there are bigots everywhere, and Albertans have absolutely nothing to do with this article. You made a very generalized statement just like the one you told others not to make. Sadly, bigots and stereotypes exist everywhere.
  13. M Hud from Toronto, Canada writes: Glenn, 'needle junky....a sodomite'. Nice. I personally don't care whether or not Harper attends the AIDS conference, but there is nothing to be gained by mean-spirited attributions such as these.
  14. M S from richmond hill, Canada writes: #6, #10: Unprotected sex is a bad thing of course, but you're overstating the consequences of condom failure... it wouldn't automatically lead to HIV infection (as you seem to imply). And if the HIV person is responding well to treatment, the risk of transmission is significantly reduced (see yesterday's Globe Health article 'Bold shift proposed in AIDS battle'). I'm not going to claim that there's zero risk to the young man in the article, but the risk to him isn't as high as many people seem to think.
  15. Robert Fisher from Canada writes: The high level of ignorance and intolerance expressed by some of the comments here are a big part of the reason why articles like this which are informative and educational in nature are important. New treatments are being developed all the time. The FDA recently approved a once-a-day pill that combines all the drugs in the current 'cocktail'. This will make treating the virus immensely simpler than it is currently. One pill vs. several means less chance of forgetting a pill or less chance of skipping a dose due to forgetfulness or not wanting to bother - where even 1 skipped pill or dose is risky. The 12% failure rate for condoms is determined by the number of heterosexual couples that are using condoms alone to prevent pregnancy. This includes condoms that are not used properly or if a condom wasn't used on the odd occasion. Used every time and used properly, the failure rate is actually about 2% or 3%. In two fairly recent studies of couples where one partner was HIV positive and one HIV negative and where condoms were used every time they had sex, the rate of infection of the negative partner was 0%.
  16. canuck in chicago from Chicago, IL, United States writes: Mr. Fisher (#15) has articulately expressed my point if view. Thanks for that. i would have hoped fo a more enlightened response from some on this thread, but... The only thing I wish to add is that I wonder who this same story would play out down here with the level (i.e., lack thereof) healthcare coverage for many.
  17. Ray Japan from Japan, Japan writes: #15: Excellent posting. I, too, have been dismayed with the misinformation left by comments here. It is good that you clarified some points. Even unprotected sex with someone that is HIV positive (which I don't suggest, of course) does not guarantee infection. As for Glenn (#4)'s 'truth' that we're suppose to face, I don't have the statistics to disagree with you. But, I will say that placing priority on heart disease and cancer over HIV based on patient numbers is a bit cold. You are ignoring the possibility that someone with HIV can live a healthy life and maybe become a cancer researcher. Or, the lessons learned from working with HIV cannot be used to improve technologies for cancer, for example. Assuming that medical research for each disease happens in isolation is wrong and I *really* hope that PM Harper realises this!
  18. j rollison from Canada writes: #8, Richard Ball, I'm not sure I read the same article you did. I read these teens were infected through tainted blood, mothers who received tainted blood and didn't know it and one who doesn't know how she got it but it showed up when she was 14. What in the world did you read Richard. How do you know Canadians don't want to hear about fidelity? And how does it relate to this article...Richard, you should get together with #4...Face the truth: if you're neither a needle junky nor a sodomite, you're not likely to catch HIV...I suppose you and your hetero partner never even consider anal sex. Read, the two of you, how HIV is spread in third world countries...it is usually by men who have sex with infected prostitutes and then infect their own wives...no sodomy or needles there. I'm shaking my head at the tone of some of the responders here. Imagine if this was your child...how much should we spend then, when it affects you personally?
  19. Nick Wilson from Toronto, Canada writes: What a sweet story. This is really moving and I fully support these kids in their ordeal. Also, thank God Albertans exist, there are the only people remaining in Canada with decent standard of morality. However what struck me from that story is what the story doesn't tell. These kids are probably victims of irreponsible homosexuals who have a total disregard to the lives of others by donating blood while they perfectly know that their abnormal and irreponsible sexual behaviour (like sodomy) put them at extremely high risk of developping HIV and other diseases. This is one the most dramatic social cost of homosexuality. Have you have think about how many billions of dollars have diverted from traditionnal medecine reserach field in order to try to find a cure for AIDS because it's more politically correct be to a gay with AIDS than a straight man with cancer. While we are now treating seropositive gays, patient with cancer, heart disease, sclerosis and so on continue to die because of a lack of funding to find cure for these disease. All of that could have been avoided if homosexual refrain to engage in any kind of sexual activities and we would not be here reading stories about innocent children been infected by contaminated blood. By writing it, I would be labelled as homophobic which I am not but it's about time homosexuals assume the risk that their situation create for the rest of society.
  20. henk gal from Calgary, Alberta, Canada writes: Nick Wilson, post # 19: I am shaking my head...where to start responding to this, from 'thank God Albertans exist, there are the only people remaining in Canada with decent standard of morality' to 'it's more politically correct be to a gay with AIDS than a straight man with cancer. While we are now treating seropositive gays, patient with cancer, heart disease, sclerosis and so on continue to die because of a lack of funding to find cure for these disease.' Your post reminds me of the saying of a wise man who said, 'The less you know, the more certain you can be.' You've certainly made that clear.
  21. John Smith from Montreal, Canada writes: Ummm...Nick Wilson (#19), you're not homophobic but...1) blaming homosexuals for tainting blood supplies by knowingly donating infected blood 2) saying that medical research that looks at treating AIDS takes away funding from more 'legitimate' or 'politically correct' diseases (a la cancer) 3) asking queers not to engage in sexual activity, and 4) saying you 'Thank God' for Albertans (a diverse population with multiple political beliefs, but I am assuming you are thanking God for the anti-Gay current in that province), I can only come to one conclusion; you sir, ARE homophobic, you sir, ARE a bigot, and people like YOU sir, are WHY I am glad same-sex marriage in Canada has finally been recognized. Your level of ignorance surrounding the evolution of the AIDS virus is astounding. You should probably do a little reading into how AIDS has been used as a propaganda tool to marginalize the queer community. I suppose hetero couples who contracted AIDS should also blame the so-called 'gay conspiracy' out there as well. Gimme a break, and give your head a shake...SHEESH!!
  22. Richard Ball from Charlottetown PEI, Canada writes: j rollison from Canada writes: 'Read, the two of you, how HIV is spread in third world countries...it is usually by men who have sex with infected prostitutes and then infect their own wives...no sodomy or needles there.' JR: What do you call having sex with prostitutes and then your wife, if not sexual promiscuity?
  23. j rollison from Canada writes: R. Ball, I was referring to 'sodomy and needle use'...I never anything about promiscuity however if it makes you feel better to only comment on that well, that's fine with me. Promiscuity, when in a so-called committed relationship, is abhorrent but this article is about teens and you have sullied it with your bigotted mind.
  24. Fred Martin from Canada writes: I find these young AIDS survivors so inspiring. I'm so glad the drugs are available to keep such people alive.

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