All I want is the Cure, and my friends back- Page 2

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 12/1/05 at 11:38am

Thanks for posting this, Elphaba.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 12/1/05 at 11:46am

The National Registry of Artists with AIDS

A humbling list of writers, actors & performers, directors, designers, composers, musicians, visual artists, film/videomakers, choreographers/dancers, architects/landscape architects, and interior designers.

So many friends. So much talent...and beauty.
The National Registry of Artists with AIDS

[SonofMammaMiaSam]

Posted: 12/1/05 at 11:59am

Being of a certain age, involved in theater and pageantry, along with working in retail buying throughout the eighties, I lost dozens of friends and co-workers to AIDS. I miss then all dearly and honor them everyday in my prayers, through volunteerism and through monetary donations to assist all of those with this disease and in hopes of finding a cure. I'm one of the lucky ones and that thought guides me now in everything I do. Mostly, I honor my friend Chris Heider. Even though he was within days of passing away he mustered the strength to share with me that I was loved, was worthy, and was capable of achieving great things in my life. He thanked me for being his friend and then for the first time shared with me some instances where I had made an impact on his life. I had no idea. How beautiful and selfless to give me that gift and those memories when his own life was ending. He was a beautiful man inside and out and I love him dearly.

[DayDreamer]

Posted: 12/1/05 at 12:36pm

Even though I've been positive for almost 14 years now, for some odd reason no one close to me has passed away from AIDS. The only person was my ballet teacher. He was a mentor of sorts, but we weren't what you would say close.

I've been blessed with a strong immune system and a weak strain of the virus, so I'm responding very well to the current therapies. So one becomes complacent... one forgets that people are still dying of this disease.

This summer I found out one of my best friends is "end stage." He's at the point now where all they can do it try to treat the various infections, which just keep on coming, one after another. We try to keep life as normal as possible, take him out to a show, meet for brunch. We chat about many stupid, banal things... he gets so tired of people asking about his health, that when we're together, I try to not even bring it up. He'll give me a quick update, and then we move on to other stuff.

I just wish people would remember that the meds are not working for everyone. And they might stop working altogether. People are still dying. Like my friend Bill.

[vbplayer]

Posted: 12/1/05 at 2:13pm

Great thread, thanks for starting this.

[Anakela]

Posted: 12/1/05 at 3:14pm

Thank you all for sharing your stories.



(from www.aidsquilt.org/) the white vertical panel on the right is in memory of the first person I knew who was lost to AIDS- his name was Mike Schuttlefield, he was my high school newspaper advisor. He was out sick a lot when I was a student, and then my freshman year of college he passed away. I loved all four years of my college newswriting experience due to the foundation that he helped lay while I was a snot nosed high school kid :), and to this day I write something somewhere daily, and for that I will always thank and remember him.

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 12/1/05 at 3:39pm

Just a bump, because I think this should be sticky.

[LuvBroadwayHugs]

Posted: 12/1/05 at 4:03pm

This is a very moving thread, I've never lost a loved one to AIDS but am deeply troubled by the general loss. I have friends who have lost incredibly important people in their lives to AIDS and have not been the same since. It goes to show how the disease affects everyone who comes in contact with it, both those who are infected and those who are not.

I am proud to wear a red ribbon on my bag!

[Millie42]

Posted: 12/1/05 at 5:22pm

Thanks for the thread, Elphaba.

And thanks to everyone for the stories!

[shiksa_goddess]

Posted: 12/1/05 at 5:46pm

Thank you all for sharing your stories. It is touching that we all care about finding a way to get rid of this disease, there is a renewed sense of hope in my soul. We will beat this someday.

I'm crying now...but it is a good cry =)

[paradox_error]

Posted: 12/1/05 at 6:12pm

...

I don't know what to say.

I hope they find the cure. I'm praying to anyone that is listening that this horror is stopped...

May all those gone, and those going be blessed by whoever it is may bless them...

...

[NYadgal]

Posted: 12/1/05 at 6:22pm

DD, I pray you have continued good health!
I don't let a day go by without thinking about my friends who are positive, and those who are at risk.

I, too, have lost friends to AIDS, and I would do anything to have them back. They will never be forgotten. And each of them made a difference in my life.


I would like to take this opportunity to thank Rob for the wonderful outreach and fundraising he does through BWW for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. The support from BroadwayWorld has been amazing and I am proud to be part of the community which cares. He continues to produce fundraising events, and I promise to continue to support him and the events.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 12/1/05 at 6:22pm

edit: double post.

So, double the love and double the thanks...

Updated On: 12/1/05 at 06:22 PM

[NYadgal]

Posted: 12/1/05 at 6:44pm

More than 25 million people have died of AIDS since 1981.

Africa has 12 million AIDS orphans.

By December 2005 women accounted for 46% of all adults living with HIV worldwide, and for 57% in sub-Saharan Africa.

Young people (15-24 years old) account for half of all new HIV infections worldwide - more than 6,000 become infected with HIV every day.

Of the 6.5 million people in developing and transitional countries who need life-saving AIDS drugs, only 1 million are receiving them.

[Elphaba]

Posted: 12/1/05 at 7:36pm

Daydreamer, I like you, have been very lucky with my HIV as I have had none of the problems so many have healthwise......it seems there is a Scandinavian gene that seems to keep it a weak strain.

But so many are not lucky.

Last year, two friends died of AIDS.......and I only found out when their sisters sent a letter (seperate incidents) after I had sent both friends Xmas cards.

One of the men I loved too much, and one, sadly I never loved enough. It was a major shock, as you lose touch, and then years later you find an address, send a Xmas card.....and then feel horribly guilty because you now cannot say what you wanted to in the first place.

That's why with loved ones, family, friends, we must remember to tell them how we feel.

I never got the chance to do that with Alan Lamprecht and with Bob Johnson.......but the memories of very special times with them are fresh in my mind.

[caitiesus1522]

Posted: 12/1/05 at 8:00pm

To everyone who has posted their stories of friends and loved ones thank you. i do not personally anyone who has dide from this disease, but it still has such an impact. Reading these stories, I have tears streaming down my face. To me the theater community and the GLTB and Allies community are a family.

To those fighting the disease...my prayers are continually with you.

I think this thread should be stickyed...we should never let ourselves forget

And I know where all my charitable donations are going this year...it wont be much but anything can help

[RaininSmilies]

Posted: 12/1/05 at 8:00pm

All your stories have touched me so much. I lit a candle and I'm praying for a cure.

[caitiesus1522]

Posted: 12/1/05 at 8:14pm

I just sent out an email and since I have none of your email addresses and you are the people I know would forward it I decided to post it in here (I hope that is ok) Just copy and paste it into your email.

Subject: World AIDS Day...please help

please go to http://www.lighttounite.com to light a candle for those who have died from AIDS...and to raise money to help find a cure, it costs nothing to you, every candle lit is $1 towards finding a solution...

Things to remember on World AIDs Day

More than 25 million people have died of AIDS since 1981.

Africa has 12 million AIDS orphans.

By December 2005 women accounted for 46% of all adults living with HIV worldwide, and for 57% in sub-Saharan Africa.

Young people (15-24 years old) account for half of all new HIV infections worldwide - more than 6,000 become infected with HIV every day.

Of the 6.5 million people in developing and transitional countries who need life-saving AIDS drugs, only 1 million are receiving them.


Please send this on to everyone you know

Caitie Sustarsic

[Rose_MacShane]

Posted: 12/1/05 at 9:30pm

How could I have forgotten Pedro Zamora? I was a little too young to watch "The Real World" when he was on, but I've since caught reruns and read the graphic novel "Pedro and Me" by Judd Winick, one of his housemates. If you haven't read it, I highly recommend it. It will make you laugh and completely break your heart.

http://www.frumpy.com/pedroandme/

[DayDreamer]

Posted: 12/1/05 at 9:41pm

Pedro was a true inspiration to many, and continues to be.

[caitiesus1522]

Posted: 12/1/05 at 9:57pm

*bump*

[NYadgal]

Posted: 12/1/05 at 10:26pm

I think it's appropriate to remember my friend, Mark, today.
He was a BRILLIANT man, who dedicated his life's work to trying to find a cure.

He died, suddenly, just recently, and I am still in shock over his loss.
I can only imagine what he might have accomplished had he lived a full life... I think he would appreciate being remembered on World AIDS Day.


His recent obituary:

Michael H. Newberg
MICHAEL H. NEWBERG M.D., Ph.D. - died suddenly at home in Newton, MA on Nov. 22nd at the age of 42.

He was the beloved husband of Jennifer (Lee) Newberg, of Riverside, the loving father of Zoe and Grady Newberg, the devoted son of Dr. Marc and Ruth (Seewald) Newberg of Greenwich, and the dear brother of Deborah Newberg of Santa Fe, NM.

Michael grew up in Greenwich. He met his wife, Jen, at Greenwich High School from which they were both graduated in 1981. He received his B.A. and B.S. from Brown University and his M.D. and Ph.D from the University of Virginia. A member of the faculty of Harvard Medical School, his research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center concentrated on the development of viral vaccines, with specific emphasis on the development of a vaccine for prevention and treatment of AIDS.

Updated On: 12/1/05 at 10:26 PM

[Lavieboheme3090]

Posted: 12/1/05 at 10:35pm

May we never forget

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 12/1/05 at 10:38pm

I took the girls to Rent last weekend. Tonight we discussed at what point did you first cry. C10 said when Angel and Collins were singing I'll Cover You. I thought that was funny. She then cried thoughout the movie.

We must teach our children all of the facts about AIDS. I hope that our children will not have a day like today in which my wife and I list the deaths of our friends!

[wexy]

Posted: 12/1/05 at 10:44pm

In memory of Fred Kurzewski,Peter Weiss,Rich Kopacz, Pat Hilliard,
Efraim Denis,Jorge Santos, Jim Gulino,Larry Centa,Jaime Titievsky,Stephen Schwartz,Matt Sarner,Tab Buckner and Ronald McDonald (classmate not the clown). Mostly coworkers who passed in the early 80s.
Alot of good people.

Updated On: 12/1/05 at 10:44 PM