This week I have been playing catch up with all my assignments. I finished watching Silverlake Life, and it made me cry! The part where Mark filmed his deceased partner, Tom, and sang "you are my sunshine, my only sunshine." He kept saying "isn't he beautiful?" It was just so sad, and Mark handled it so well. I know that I wouldn't be that brave if my best friend passed away right in front of me. Last week, a bird I tried to save out of the middle of the road rode home with me and later died in my back yard, right before my eyes. I cried my eyes out. It was so strange seeing something alive one minute, and the very next, poof. Gone. That's it. Watching AIDS literally take someones life really hit a nerve with me. We literally watched Tom waste away week after week in his tapes. But I suppose that was his plan. He really wanted to show the world the grim reality of what his life was like. That is why I am very glad he made this video. It really serves as an education tool for thousands across the country. People need to see it for what it really is.
Did you know?
Currently at the University of Florida, researchers are testing the H1N1 vaccine on patients with HIV/AIDS. The University of Florida Center for HIV/AIDS Research, based at the hospital, will use its existing patients for the study (Jacksonville.com). * They want to see how it affects people with suppressed immune systems.
*http://jacksonville.com/news/2009-10-21/story/shands_jacksonville_to_host_h1n1_vaccine_trials_for_hivaids_patients
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I cried in that movie too. I remember I watched it late at night and I kept thinking about the lesions on his body and the depression and suffering that he went through.It is a good documentary - it helps to open up.
ReplyDeleteI'm no scientist but I guess that H1N1 vaccine could help for HIV/AIDS. See, that is what I like about donating money for research, that fact that if one thing dosesn't work for something, they continue to try and see what can work. I'm not sure if all research is done in this manner but I can appreciate when it's done that way.
ReplyDeleteSilverlake Life was full of so many emotions. It was hard to watch becuase we all knew in what the outcome was going to be for Tom. Like you mentioned though, seeing it makes a world of difference. Also, to see how much Tom's body had wasted away was so sad. I am thinkful took this class and have learned so much about not only how decestating HIV is but how political. As yes YAHOO! for no pappers this week =)
ReplyDeleteI am interested in the research that UF is doing. I know my daughter's ID doctor hasn't started giving the vaccine to her patients yet and I'm wondering if she has some reservations. I would hate to end up giving my daughter H1N1, although they say the needle version is dead virus.
ReplyDeleteSorry you were not able to save the bird. Did you think about taking it to a vet? I did that once. They do pro bono work and he was able to save it.