World AIDS Day

Another reminder. As if the photo albums weren't enough. As if the quarterly blood draws weren't enough. As if the nightly pills weren't enough. As if the side effects from the drugs weren't enough. On top if it all, we have another reminder: World AIDS Day. A reminder that AIDS isn't over.

Sadly, we do need another reminder. Not only do people act as if AIDS is over, but some will dare to say as much. So here we are, December 1, World AIDS Day.

Sadly, people still become infected.
Sadly, people still miss the ones who died too soon from a disease that has taken too many.
Sadly, some people don't have access to the meds.
Sadly, some people don't respond to the meds.
Sadly, some people have and spread the disease without even knowing it.
Sadly, there is still no cure.

Things are better. Thank God, things are better. We do have medication. The medications work wonders for many. Funerals are no longer a weekly activity in our lives. In three short decades we identified the disease, learned how it is spread, how to prevent it from spreading, how to treat the illnesses it causes, and even how to supress the virus in many cases. Pretty miraculous when you think about it. There is hope, and it is better, but its not over.

My prayer today is that people who are HIV negative will remain so.
My prayer is that people who are HIV positive will have access to life saving treatments.
My prayer today is that a cure will be found. And until it is, we must remember. Amen.