tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3245783834297902042.post4765528718186525244..comments2023-10-26T05:49:59.824-04:00Comments on Reflections of a Grady Doctor: Where is the love?gradydoctorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10639816377218206777noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3245783834297902042.post-85202681001177125052012-02-12T23:09:40.319-05:002012-02-12T23:09:40.319-05:00This is a very sad story and its unbelievable that...This is a very sad story and its unbelievable that people still don't have a grasp on HIV and infection risks. <br /><br />It's also unfortunate that you had to include race in the issue. Let's focus on what's really upsetting here. I don't think the school would have taken a stance that is any different than the current one, even if the student was the "pretty doe-eyed porcelain doll" you describe (interesting description by the way). There certainly isn't any evidence of this in the school's past (just 46% of the school's population is caucasian with 30% african american and 11% hispanic). I would think that we can accept what the school does well while highlighting where they are really making unfortunate mistakes.<br /><br />There are white, black and even porcelain children in need of the opportunity to receive an education like this school has been providing. There are also children with HIV that need this opportunity, and it is here that this school needs to be critiqued.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3245783834297902042.post-48279911665372176022011-12-15T15:34:27.491-05:002011-12-15T15:34:27.491-05:00"Tell me something good...tell me that you lo..."Tell me something good...tell me that you love me" Where has all the compassion in this world gone? When Magic Johnson first annouced he tested positive for HIV the entire world responded with empathy and a few short months later his fellow NBA players questioned whether he should be allowed to play in the leaugue. Immediately after the AIDS Awareness supporters pushed back against mis-information concerning AIDS the world community sought to protect the rights of AIDS/HIV carriers but now a few short decades later a child has to fight against ignorance to achieve an education at a prestigious institution. "Where is the Love?"<br /> NiceAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3245783834297902042.post-31916770824882133252011-12-13T08:51:20.313-05:002011-12-13T08:51:20.313-05:00Thanx for bringing this to our attention. I have s...Thanx for bringing this to our attention. I have several doctor friends who graduated from Hershey. This is soo embarrassing. Definitely have brought it to their attention. Maybe the alumni can have a more educated voice!!Dr Kayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10311010066600682734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3245783834297902042.post-76580220397553962942011-12-06T10:47:46.385-05:002011-12-06T10:47:46.385-05:00"And the belief that he will run all over thi..."And the belief that he will run all over this campus spewing forth blood and semen everywhere he goes is, I think, somehow shaped by somebody's perception of people--especially male people--who look like him." <br />Preach! So well said and so needed. Even here at Grady I catch folks making so many assumptions and presumptions around HIV/AIDS... especially when those patients some consider "high risk" are involved. Folks often don't want to talk about the raciest, sexist, and classist assumptions that underlie these assumptions either. So please, keep unpacking all you can because the world (and especially the ones who would turn intelligent, strong, beautiful black men and boys into hypersexualized risk factors) needs to be reminded of this truth.stonesehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10441528803165689859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3245783834297902042.post-27235540479746586302011-12-05T22:10:36.569-05:002011-12-05T22:10:36.569-05:00As a former AIDS Researcher and later Counselor, I...As a former AIDS Researcher and later Counselor, I continue to be disgusted by the ignorance of others. CLEARY this boy's race is at the heart of the issue, HIV is just their convenient excuse.<br /><br />And congrats Dr. Manning, on your spot on Anderson Cooper!Doc201Xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03256674607622605620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3245783834297902042.post-15971993105782829862011-12-05T20:36:27.587-05:002011-12-05T20:36:27.587-05:00Oh, I am horrified, and heartbroken. As a teacher...Oh, I am horrified, and heartbroken. As a teacher myself, I cannot imagine telling a child who WANTS to learn and is MOTIVATED that they can't? No, no ma'am...ain't happening...not on my watch. But apparently, if you are at a rich private school you can do whatever the hell you want to do. But that don't make it right, or accepatble man. I teach at a public school, that is probably 70% African American. A large portion of the students at my school are on free and reduced lunch, which basically means that there isn't much money at home. To think about one of my African American boys, who is motivated and smart and who wants a chance to be denied because of something that isn't their fault? Oh, it makes me mad. Because if I'm being honest, a lot of my kids don't have a family background that has stressed education as the key for them. And, I have seen one too many of my boys lost to the streets/gangs and my girls to pregnancy. And those patterns of poverty keep me up at night. So this? This makes me MAD! Shame on them an their school. <br /><br />**As a complete side note, I live in Columbus, GA but have family in the ATL area so whenever I drive past Grady on the highway to visit my peeps, I think "Oh, my favorite Grady Doc works there!" :)Christiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10805994341532766158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3245783834297902042.post-9608433175650477482011-12-05T17:24:57.317-05:002011-12-05T17:24:57.317-05:00Well I think this sucks and now I'm not going ...Well I think this sucks and now I'm not going to buy those santa hat kisses that I was going to give to my co-workers. I'm sure that Dove Chocolate has something presentable.Lisa https://www.blogger.com/profile/09324961653370110887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3245783834297902042.post-45362983764890662512011-12-05T14:34:48.618-05:002011-12-05T14:34:48.618-05:00Dr. Manning - thank you again for such an insightf...Dr. Manning - thank you again for such an insightful post. I look around sometimes and I think how far we have come in this world - and then I read stories like this one and realize how completely un-evolved we are. I'm glad that you unpacked all of the reasons behind the school's decision - I'm glad that someone will stand up and say it. We live in a world consumed by fear of what is "different" and we label and make it easy to cast people aside rather than reaching out in understanding. All Muslims are terrorists, all Latinos are here illegally, all African-American men with HIV want to spread their disease around. Really??? Can the people saying that really look in the mirror and tell themselves these generalities with a straight face? I hope and pray for the day when humans have evolved enough to look past their initial fears and see others for who they truly are - not their race, their religion, their financial condition, their HIV status.Samhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17981849271795248642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3245783834297902042.post-27468128022228095682011-12-05T11:39:29.740-05:002011-12-05T11:39:29.740-05:00Dang... I'm tripping that Ryan White was my ag...Dang... I'm tripping that Ryan White was my age. He would have been 40 tomorrow... blows my mind. <br /><br />I hadn't heard that Elton John song in years... great post, as always.<br /><br />xoxo,<br />bizdjdjd04https://www.blogger.com/profile/11505371470238707568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3245783834297902042.post-28975062144472478292011-12-05T06:49:27.370-05:002011-12-05T06:49:27.370-05:00RottenMom-- Thanks for feeling me.
Sgk-- Yeah, wh...RottenMom-- Thanks for feeling me.<br /><br />Sgk-- Yeah, whoda thunk it?<br /><br />Mel--Gasp! I know this hit home for you. Thank you so much for sharing your experience in Indiana. Wow.<br /><br />Sister Moon -- I knew you'd be on my team before I even started typing. And yes, I am proud of you--there wasn't a single F-bomb!<br /><br />Kristin -- CNN didn't mention race, but I'm with you--I still think it's a factor here.<br /><br />SisterNOLA-- And like Sister Moon, I knew that you, too, would be on my team. I had you on retainer, girl!<br /><br />WCD -- You know I always 'preciate you, don't you?<br /><br />Jameil -- Those message boards do seem to attract weirdos. For every logical post there are twelve outlandish ones!<br /><br />Elizabeth -- First--I knew you'd be on my team, too. You are an amazing warrior mom, and champion for Sophie. The reason I mentioned the "no fault of his own" was because I was thinking that perhaps THAT might get him an extra drop of empathy from somewhere. I'm with you--no matter how he got HIV, this just is terribly unfortunate to see in 2011. <br /><br />Courtney-- Wow. What could be more selfless and wonderful? This reminds me of my friend Kris R. whose heart is pure platinum to the very core. That child you adopt--whether that child be HIV positive or negative--awaits a world of good. Stop back by and please, please keep us posted!gradydoctorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10639816377218206777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3245783834297902042.post-3506671039180621282011-12-05T02:17:25.064-05:002011-12-05T02:17:25.064-05:00Un-freaking-pack it!
My husband and I are in th...Un-freaking-pack it! <br /><br />My husband and I are in the beginning stages of international adoption from Africa. The adoption agency is practically falling over themselves because we said we'd be perfectly okay with adopting an HIV+ child. <br /><br />We say, "Hey, we live in America, where we are afforded the luxury of readily available antiretrovirals and health care." <br /><br />Our family thinks we're nuts. Our friends think we're nuts. First, because we're white and, "Why can't you adopt a white child; if you have to go internationally, there are lots of white kids available." Then it turns into, "Why would you put yourselves and your other kids at risk?!" At risk for what, having a new brother or sister to love? A brother or sister who likely has a death sentence if they stay in a country where medical care is a luxury, and a luxury that most orphans don't have access to?<br /><br />I admit that when I first heard of an American family adopting an HIV+ child, I thought I could never do that. But the more we educated ourselves, the more we were open to the idea. I just wish people would take the time to educate themselves before continuing on with their ignorant comments and beliefs...Courtneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11482924501119670851noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3245783834297902042.post-69770303677202922302011-12-04T23:42:11.277-05:002011-12-04T23:42:11.277-05:00I am in complete agreement with all of what you sa...I am in complete agreement with all of what you said. As the parent of a child with severe disabilities, the story doesn't surprise me at all -- and comments sections of articles, editorials, etc. are usually the place where the most hateful people hang out and spew their venom. I could show you some amazing stuff about children born disabled that would make your curdling blood turn green. I am grateful that you would shout about this story and help us to shout about it, too. Thank you.<br /><br />Also, @Jameil and, I believe, Grady Doctor: Even is this kid's HIV status WAS "his fault" (you both stated that it wasn't his fault), discriminating against him because of disability, disease, skin color, etc. is not only immoral and inhumane, it's illegal.Elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03313726816776097840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3245783834297902042.post-65688358059813870442011-12-04T23:32:25.484-05:002011-12-04T23:32:25.484-05:00Confession: I could only get through the first par...Confession: I could only get through the first part of your post (ending with your pont #5 on HIV) on first reading, I was mad and wanted to be calmer than I was. I have re-read the entire post now, and cried, and what I failed to say in my previous comment is that I am grateful - honestly, truthfully, unequivocally, joyfully grateful that people like you exist in this world. No matter what evil my and your and other children may have to face in this world, there are still people like you who will be there to love and comfort and support them.<br /><br />Thank you for raising this issue, for not being afraid to unpack all the variables, even the really heavy ones, and a thousand thank yous for being who you are.White Coat Dreamerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02805599382000688596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3245783834297902042.post-3251407032040495212011-12-04T21:28:15.417-05:002011-12-04T21:28:15.417-05:00The comments sections of stories rarely have usefu...The comments sections of stories rarely have useful discourse. They're overtaken by crazies. It's apparently so much easier for people to be scared than to be empathetic and think about how you would feel if your own child had HIV through no fault of his own. Would you want him to be isolated are marginalized because of his medical condition? I agree with StaceSenior. Because if we're creating these HIV-only schools, don't we then have to create these HIV-only workplaces? And were do we stop when creating these segregated societies?Jameilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02242625946552047911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3245783834297902042.post-35493796373281025662011-12-04T20:43:40.133-05:002011-12-04T20:43:40.133-05:00I had not heard of this yet, and I am shaken - it&...I had not heard of this yet, and I am shaken - it's hard to describe that feeling (the feeling that something is terribly wrong, or really scary, or both) when all your internal organs seem to have dropped at least 6 inches, your heart is racing, you feel your blood getting cold in your vessels, and your throat is dry. <br /><br />No matter how hard I try, I am unable to understand how people can be so cruel, callous, and selfish, especially towards children.<br /><br />The worst part is that the older I get the less certain I become that I will see this go away in my lifetime, which tells me I have to work harder. One of the things I have been working on at the hospital is confronting people's biases (in a kind and diplomatic way, but still confronting them head on) and inviting people to look at things from a different perspective. This is especially important with very young med student colleagues, many of whom have never faced any of the difficulties faced by the patients they are seeing and so readily judging.White Coat Dreamerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02805599382000688596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3245783834297902042.post-46077170028367111072011-12-04T20:23:46.273-05:002011-12-04T20:23:46.273-05:00Oh soul, you make me want to get on my lawyering s...Oh soul, you make me want to get on my lawyering soapbox fo sho. Hey, y'all, DISCRIMINATION LIKE THIS IS ILLEGAL. And stupid, for all the damn good reasons you gave. <br /><br />Bless their souls for making the case and being public because making this fight out in the open will make people talk. Yeah, we'll hear some STUPID-ass shit, but more people will understand more once it's blown over. They will get huge karma points for the good they'll do for others who come along in the same situation. <br /><br />This? This is why I became a lawyer.<br /><br />Remember in the early 80's when schools had to start becoming accessible? I remember a ramp built and all the kids who'd been hidden in the basement suddenly allowed out to the light of day. Special education lawsuits. And there's still miles to go, but we've come so far. This fits right on in that category, and the blow-up with this will hopefully be resoundingly clear to all them all. <br /><br />I def think with the unpacking that it's the combination of race and gender and class, and I'm glad you called it out.NOLAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05572754078356812922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3245783834297902042.post-4381687598831076422011-12-04T19:38:23.330-05:002011-12-04T19:38:23.330-05:00Sad. Really, really sad. And i hear you about t...Sad. Really, really sad. And i hear you about the race issue. Things have changed and yet in life threatening ways, they are as dangerous for black men as they were in the past.Kristinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06413795611563683135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3245783834297902042.post-18119489518197115242011-12-04T19:21:59.623-05:002011-12-04T19:21:59.623-05:00Call the M. Effer's out, SisterDoctorMamaWoman...Call the M. Effer's out, SisterDoctorMamaWoman! Call them OUT! Ignorance is NOT bliss and it is NOT an excuse and in this case it is inexcusable and BS because anyone, ANY person in this world can know the truth about HIV and how it is transmitted.<br />Speak the truth and fear no man! <br />That's something I try to live by and no, I do not completely succeed but sometimes, you just have to lean on that one and do it.<br />And you have. <br />I'm proud of you and you should unpack any damn time you feel it's necessary because the more we drag this sh*t out in the open and let the light get to it, the better off we'll all be.<br />Love...Mary<br />(P.S. Did you notice that I bleeped my profanity? Are you proud of me?)Ms. Moonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09776404747858099919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3245783834297902042.post-68276751065432424292011-12-04T19:19:00.771-05:002011-12-04T19:19:00.771-05:00This story escaped me and I am livid. I call bulls...This story escaped me and I am livid. I call bullshit. I <i>thought</i> things were different. I <i>thought</i> that after Ryan we had learned a few things. I am tired of thinking the world really is crazy and we are moving back into the dark ages of ignorance and fear. <br /><br />I was in Indianapolis the night Ryan died, at Farm Aid, and Elton came by to sing Candle in the Wind for him. It is one of the most memorable nights of my life. I was there with dear friends, one of whom would die within a few years from AIDS, estranged from his parents who shunned him for being gay. So I have this bile taste in my mouth from reading your post, because of the facts, but an even warmer spot in my heart for you, because you just keep fighting the good fight and spreading the word.<br />I'll be watching for news of this story, and why isn't it more in the news???<br />xoMelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10114884092474969555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3245783834297902042.post-68849499120788690762011-12-04T18:49:18.748-05:002011-12-04T18:49:18.748-05:00It's 2011. Whoda thunk there would be a worldw...It's 2011. Whoda thunk there would be a worldwide shortage of dignity, respect and compassion? <br /><br />Good luck to this young man, even though he may not need it. He sounds like he has all the stuff to change the world. It's nice, too, to see intelligent people taking up for him. <br /><br />Maybe if we all speak up when crap like this happens, we can finally put an end to the small-minded tethers holding us all back.Sgkordalskinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3245783834297902042.post-50426350759677297452011-12-04T18:03:52.950-05:002011-12-04T18:03:52.950-05:00Oh you unpacked it alright. This should be require...Oh you unpacked it alright. This should be required reading for everyone. I am a little embarrassed to admit that I started sobbing halfway through reading. For the the boy denied admittance and for the Ryan Whites and Ryan Blacks of this world. I watched with horror the CNN interview. <br /><br />Thank you for your voice, you are amazing.RottenMomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17518968855889232271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3245783834297902042.post-19741383246549197002011-12-04T17:57:57.093-05:002011-12-04T17:57:57.093-05:00Spice Girl -- Thanks for your thoughts. And for le...Spice Girl -- Thanks for your thoughts. And for letting me unpack.<br /><br />Stace -- Heck if I know. I think they are saying, "You ain't got to go home, but you got to get the hell up outta here."gradydoctorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10639816377218206777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3245783834297902042.post-49520456449229199692011-12-04T17:54:27.223-05:002011-12-04T17:54:27.223-05:00I think your explanation about antiretroviral drug...I think your explanation about antiretroviral drugs is an important one. There are many, many people who think Magic Johnson doesn't have full-blown AIDS because of some 'miracle.' A lot of people would rather react from emotion than the facts, but for an institution to do it is unsettling. Are they saying there should be separate schools for HIV positive children?StaceSeniorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11298888057695504986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3245783834297902042.post-16957174181713219512011-12-04T17:15:27.086-05:002011-12-04T17:15:27.086-05:00I hadn't heard of this (yet). So sad, It is al...I hadn't heard of this (yet). So sad, It is almost impossible to think that we live in a world where we can't all just be people and accept one another for the DNA we share. Some days I feel that we've come so far and then some days so decidedly NOT. I hope that the legal battle and media continue to draw attention to this case. Thank you for posting and unpacking all that truth. "preciate you" Grady Doctor!Neuro Chick- Kid Dochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03126571465841640755noreply@blogger.com