In Memory of My Cousin: Blogging to End AIDS

Today is World AIDS Day. Throughout the world, over 30 million people are living with one of the most deadly diseases --- HIV and AIDS. It is likely that you know someone who has contracted the virus or who has already died from it. Because of the stigma of AIDS, one of my cousins, passed away several years ago in loneliness and isolation from our family.

Without giving us an opportunity to say a loving good-bye to him, his mother selfishly had him buried far away from us. No one else, not even his father, knew what happened to him. It is a pain that I still carry and anger that I have yet to overcome towards her.

Not only did my cousin die a horrible death, he was also ashamed to disclose his homosexuality to the family. While I cannot fully understand how he must have felt, it was just another stupid attempt to conceal the obvious.

I so want to say to him, "Hello cousin, tell us something we don't already know." I would have hugged him and told him that we love all of him even if we don't agree with his lifestyle. I just can't imagine the pain and loneliness he must have endured. It was all so unnecessary.

I know that my cousin probably wanted to avoid the attempts to "straighten" him out. His lifestyle choice would have wrought the same lectures heaped upon the "wayward" relatives who choose to "live in sin" without the benefit of marriage. I love my family but some of their actions are as predictable as sunrise.

All things considered, my cousin forgot how our family always has each other's back. He forgot that we don't always agree but we're always family. What is more ironic is that he could have learned that he was not alone; there are other members of the family that are homosexual also. What a sad end to a promising life.

HIV/AIDS is not a homosexual disease so don't foolishly think you can't get it if you're heterosexual. Although HIV/AIDS is prevalent among blacks, you can get it if you're not black. Regardless of your ethnicity or sexual preference, you are susceptible to contracting HIV/AIDS if you engage in sexual activities, are an intravenous drug user or require a blood transfusion. If you are an infant, you can get HIV from the breast milk of an infected mother.

Don't let HIV/AIDS break up your family and remember that no ever has to suffer through this disease alone. Most of all, to my cousin, I love you, man.

From World Vision:

Take Our Online AIDS Test
Fact and fiction swirl around the AIDS crisis. What do you know? Test your knowledge about HIV and AIDS with this interactive quiz. Some answers are obvious — some are not. Take the test...

Step Into Africa With the World Vision Experience: AIDS
Can you survive the journey of a child? The Experience is an interactive exhibit that will transport you to the heart of Africa ... and into the life of a child.
Visit the Experience Web site and watch the trailer...

Comments

[angie]

So many families are that way, loving to "preach" at other members because they don't agree with their choices, telling them they are living in sin, all the while forgetting those remarkable passages in the Bible about Forgiveness.

My heart goes out to you for the loss of your cousin, and I won't give you any platitudes about time healing wounds and all, because sometimes losses are harder to deal with when you have no closure.

BIG HUGZ.

[Shelia]

Great post!

[Jim Legington]

Hey there Vanessa,

Read Your Blog Post from our email and we were so moved just knowing that Your thought
was about "Blogging To End Aids". We made a
link back to Your Blog from our Posting at
Path of Life Newsletter-Faithworks.

We are in Memory of Your Cousin with You and
our prayers and support are with You. God
Bless Your Family, stay close that means so
much. Let the word of the Lord dwell richly
in your heart. A Lad's Lunch with Favor is
Our Sunday Evening Post where we shared a
blessing for You this evening. Vanessa do
Be Blessed always...Peace!

[Theo J.]

Great post. Thanks for sharing that with us.

[Yobachi]

Sorry about your cousin Vanessa. Thanks for posting.

[Vanessa]

Thanks, everyone for your comments and even those of you who read it and wanted to comment but didn't.

I must thank Yobachi from BlackPerspective.net for pulling the campaign together. Perhaps our keeping HIV/AIDS in the spotlight will prevent some folks from contracting the disease. We have become far too complacent.

Thanks, again.

[Danielle]

I am so sorry to hear about your cousin.

I too am taking Yobachi's challenge and will include your post.

I applaud your willingness to share your personal journey and experiences with us in your quest to educate and entertain us.

My heart is with you, my sister.

[Vanessa]

Thanks, Danielle. You are such a great spirit. Love you, my sister.