Ryan White

“I received thousands of letters of support from all around the world, all because I wanted to go to school.”

“My family and I held no hatred for those people because we realized they were victims of their own ignorance.”

“We had great faith that with patience, understanding, and education, that my family and I could be helpful in changing their minds and attitudes around.”

“On December 17, 1984, I had surgery to remove two inches of my left lung due to pneumonia. After two hours of surgery the doctors told my mother I had AIDS.”

“Financial hardships were rough on us, even though Mom had a good job at G.M.”

“Rumors of sneezing, kissing, tears, sweat, and saliva spreading AIDS caused people to panic.”

“Entertainers, athletes, and stars started giving me support.”

“I came face to face with death at thirteen years old.”

“Mayor Koch, of New York, was the first public figure to give me support.”

“My studies are important to me. I made the honor role just recently, with 2 A's and 2 B's.”

“The school I was going to said they had no guidelines for a person with AIDS.”

“Eventually, I won the right to attend school, but the prejudice was still there.”

“Listening to medical facts was not enough. People wanted one hundred percent guarantees.”

“I believe in myself as I look forward to graduating from Hamilton Heights High School in 1991.”

“AIDS can destroy a family if you let it, but luckily for my sister and me, Mom taught us to keep going. Don't give up, be proud of who you are, and never feel sorry for yourself.”

“How could these people in the public eye not be afraid of me, but my whole town was?”

“The first five to six years of my life were spent in and out of the hospital.”

“I was labeled a troublemaker, my mom an unfit mother, and I was not welcome anywhere.”

“Twice a week I would receive injections or IV's of Factor VIII which clotted the blood and then broke it down.”

“My name is Ryan White. I am sixteen years old. I have hemophilia, and I have AIDS.”