April 8. 1990 22 years ago

On December 6, 1971, in Kokomo Indiana, a baby was born into this world that has changed the way we see this chronic infection now. He was only with us for 18 short years, April 8, 1990 in Indianapolis Indiana this courageous young man passed away with complication from AIDS. He was a hemophiliac and during a blood transfusion in 1984 he became infected with HIV from contaminated blood. He was diagnosed in December 1984 and Doctor's gave him six months to live. 5 years later and one month before his high school graduation he died, but not without becoming a poster child for HIV/AIDS in the United States. He appeared frequently in the media with celebrities such as Elton John, Michael Jackson and Phil Donahue.

What made this young man unlike any other person that was infected during this time. His battle as a child with society and a mother that was not going to let this injustice go un noticed. He not only was shunned by the town but was expelled from his middle school because of his infection, even after the doctors said he posed no risk to other students. Because of the ignorance about the infection many teachers and parents rallied agains him when he tried to return to school.

Pall bearers at his funeral included such famous people as Elton John, Howie Long and Phil Donahue. This young man drove a shiny red mustang convertable that Michael Jackson bought him. Elton John gave his mom money to buy a home in Cicero Indiana and when she paid him back he put it into Ryan's little sister's college fund.

The U.S. Congress passed a major piece of AIDS legislation, the Ryan White Care Act, shortly after White's death. The Act has been reauthorized twice; Ryan White Programs are the largest provider of services for people living with HIV/AIDS in the United States.

I highly recommend that you read up on this amazing young man and if you ever get a chance go listen to his mother speak. She still speaks on HIV/AIDS awareness. To start with go to Wikipedia. Interesting stuff there.

With that all said, I am going to bed. This young man is someone I read up on when I first started this job. His story is one to never forget.