Mark: A short storyette for the charity awareness retreat

Mark:
By Chaz Kildare
A One Shot Storyette for The Charity Awareness Mini Retreat

Hello,

My Name is Mark. I am in the second grade. I go to George Washington elementary school. I am in seven years old. I have lots of friends. I like Gym and playing kickball. I want to be an astronaut when I grow up. I like playing in the park.

My mom told me I was sick. My mom told me that I have a disease that is not my fault. I have something called Acquired Immunity Deficiency Syndrome.

My name is Mark. I am seven years old. I have AIDS

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Hello,

My name is Mark, I am in third grade. I go to George Washington elementary school. I am eight years old. I don't have many friends. I can't play in Gym class anymore, They say if I get hurt I can make other people sick. I want to be a police officer when I grow up. I want to make people have to be fair. When I go to the park the other kids don't play with me anymore and tell me to go away. It makes me mad.

My mom told me I got sick when I needed blood for an operation when I was little. The blood was bad.

My name is Mark. I am eight years old. I have AIDS


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Hello,

My name is Mark. I am nine years old. I can't go to school anymore, they didn't want me there. We had to move away because the people there are afraid of me. I like to draw pictures in my hospital bed. I'm in the hospital a lot now. If I grow up I want to be a doctor. I haven't been to the park in a long time.

My mom cries a lot when she thinks I am sleeping. I didn't want to make my mom sad. If I wasn't sick my mom would not be sad. I want my mom to be happy.

My name is Mark. I am nine years old. I have AIDS.



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Hello,

I am Marks mother. I found these words in my child's notebook when I was going through his things. Sadly, Mark did not live to see his tenth birthday. He was a brave and alive child, that slowly got worse when his body could no longer fight off infections.

It wasn't Mark's fault that he contracted HIV, then AIDS. Mark received contaminated blood that was not screened properly when he had his appendix taken out at the age of four.

When we told the school of his condition, his educators, as well as his classmates parents immediately grew afraid of Mark, and forbade their children have contact with them.

Mark, who was always a popular boy, could not understand why something that was not his fault resulted in everyone that he cared about in school, and in our town to shun hum. First the apathy, and then the harassment that resulted in us having to move to another city where no one knew us.

HIV and AIDS do not discriminate. They affect the young and the old, the black and the white, the straight and the gay. In 2008, It has was shown that at least 2.1 Million children are living with either HIV or AIDS. HIV and AIDS not only infects and leads to the victims death, it also infects the community with intolerance and hatred about something they do not understand.

If you know a person with HIV or AIDS, please do not treat them like they are a disease to the community. Please treat them like a person the community cares for.

Sara Blorns
Mother of Mark Blorns
1990-1999
Rest in Peace Mark.

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(AUTHORS NOTE: The preceding was a work of fiction. Mark and his mother do not exist. But over 2.1 Million children and their parents currently live with either HIV or AIDS. There may not be a cure now, but with patience, understanding and research, maybe one day we can find a cure for these children, and let them all enjoy their day in the park.

Please visit http://www.pedaids.org/Home.aspx for information on how you can help.)

Chaz Kildare
4/14/2010