18 Years and Miracles

The following words are from a new and dear friend I met on the Charity Treks ride, an August family that rides for funding and awareness for an AIDS vaccine: 

It’s December 1st and World AIDS Day. I can not help but be thoughtful as I wake up to the posts on Facebook with banners and ribbons. If you know me, you know that just a few weeks ago I traveled to California to watch my youngest daughter, Megan, get married. And in April, she will have my first grandchild, a girl. This makes me also think of them.
 
Megan was barely a year old herself when I got the first test telling me I had HIV. Back then, having HIV was very nearly a death sentence. I can remember holding Megan back then, so small and dependent on her mother and I, so beautiful and perfect, and wondering how long I would get to hold her. Would I see her walk? Is it possible I could live long enough to wait up for her on her first date? See her in a prom dress? Go to her wedding?
 
For nearly eighteen years I have lived with HIV. I have had good years and bad year; been treated with love and support and with fear and anger. I have shared laughter and tears. I have found that a purpose with those who understand the need. I have seen my daughters graduate, one get married and will see my first grandchild, a girl, in April. I have survived and found the most incredible group of people in my August Family of Riders.
 
I have so much to be thankful for, but AIDS is not over.

- More than 34 million people now live with HIV/AIDS.
- 3.3 million of them are under the age of 15.
- In 2011, an estimated 2.5 million people were newly infected with HIV.
- 330,000 were under the age of 15.
- Every day nearly 7,000 people contract HIV—nearly 300 every hour.
- In 2011, 1.7 million people died from AIDS.
- 230,000 of them were under the age of 15.
- Since the beginning of the epidemic, more than 60 million people have contracted HIV and nearly 30 million have died of HIV-related causes.

On this day of remembrance, I ask you to go to charitytreks.org. Register to ride and to crew. Donate to the ride in support of those you love, those you have lost and in support of a cure.
I needed Charity Treks and my August family because I needed hope.  Emory and UCLA need the funding they receive from us to find a vaccine.
 
And it is people like all of you who Ride and Crew and Fundraise for Charity Treks, who have gotten so many of us this far. You rode to raise awareness. In other rides you rode to fund research into treatments and new drugs. You rode because of the people you knew who had HIV and in honor of those you had lost. You rode because you knew you were needed.
 
We need you still.