Life Doesn't Have to End

Cricket Barrazotto

Description

"Life Don't Have To End." is a compilation of stories, images, and wisdom from HIV positive men and women. Over a two-year period, more than 60 courageous individuals from the JACQUES Initiative of the Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine tell their story. Raw, edgy, now, heart wrenching, true and undeniable are just a few descriptors.

Sujets

• VIH
• Activism
• HIV

Informations

• Publié par: First Edition Design Publishing
• Date de parution: 10 octobre 2013
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781622874446
• Langue: English

Extrait

“Life don’t have to end.”
Cricket Barrazotto


First Edition Design Publishing, Inc.
“Life don’t have to end.”
Copyright ©2013 Cricket Barrazotto

ISBN 978-1622874-46-0 EBOOK
ISBN 978-1622874-44-6 PRINT

October 2013

Published and Distributed by
First Edition Design Publishing, Inc.
P.O. Box 20217, Sarasota, FL 34276-3217
www.firsteditiondesignpublishing.com



ALL R I G H T S R E S E R V E D. No p a r t o f t h i s b oo k pub li ca t i o n m a y b e r e p r o du ce d, s t o r e d i n a r e t r i e v a l s y s t e m , o r t r a n s mit t e d i n a ny f o r m o r by a ny m e a ns ─ e l e c t r o n i c , m e c h a n i c a l , p h o t o - c o p y , r ec o r d i n g, or a ny o t h e r ─ e x ce pt b r i e f qu ot a t i o n i n r e v i e w s , w i t h o ut t h e p r i o r p e r mi ss i on o f t h e a u t h o r or publisher .
With beauty and honesty, Cricket Barrazotto and her friends present a stunning journey of suffering and hope. As you move through these pages, you will discover not only stories, but people, real people, whose lives have profoundly changed. If we give ourselves permission, their lives will change ours too.

– Stephan Bauman
President and CEO, World Relief, Baltimore, Maryland

“Life Don’t Have To End.” speaks to the resiliency of the human spirit and body. Through the voices of individuals who are living with HIV, the reader is challenged to consider how people living with a chronic illness find the strength to live each day while managing complex medication regimens, dealing with the loss of important relationships, and exploring answers to how they contracted the disease. The willingness of each of these individuals to tell their stories provides health care providers with a gift of hearing first hand about the journey of living with HIV. The stories also highlight the importance of having a support network, including family, friends, and programs like the JACQUES Initiative, to accompany persons on the journey.
– Jane Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN
Dean and Professor, University of Maryland School of Nursing
Director Interprofessional Education, University of Maryland

From beginning to end “Life Don’t Have to End.” resonant with raw transparencies of those living with HIV/AIDS. Their stories become our stories as we walk this earth together as family of the human race. Their tears, joys, and triumphs become our tears, joys and triumphs. Hope is the optimal word stemming from the quote, “from problem to purpose the mess becomes a message”. Indeed nothing is ever wasted, no pain ever permanent with God! A must read for all!
– Rev. Dr. A. Qismat Alim,
Pastor - Payne Memorial A.M.E. Church,
Baltimore, Maryland

The personal stories of brothers and sisters living with HIV/AIDS in “Life Don’t Have to End.” are proclamations of triumph and freedom, of prevailing over darkness, and rising out of the ashes. Psalm 118:17 says, “I will not die but live and proclaim what the Lord has done.” These stories proclaim hope; hope of a life lived abundantly and to the fullest, even in the midst of challenge and chaos. The readers are drawn in and challenged to walk alongside brothers and sisters as they overcome. What an encouragement to all who read.
– Erin Donovan
Executive Director, HopeSprings

As a future health professional, this book provides invaluable insights into the patients I may be helping. When treating HIV, it has never been more apparent that we must treat the patient, rather than just plainly treating the disease. Reading these private, deep voyages down memory lane has enlightened me and re-encouraged me not to be so quick to judge others. I am so thankful to the contributors sharing their stories. I’m not sure I’ve really seen anything else like “Life Don’t Have To End.” where we get to peek into people’s lives and see “how it all started” in order to really understand them. It’s easy to sympathize for the HIV positive patient, but this book helped me to better empathize. This book helps decrease the stigma surrounding HIV.
– Amy Cheng, PharmD Candidate
University of Maryland School of Pharmacy Class of 2014
Table of Contents

About the Title
“Life Don’t Have to End.”
Foreword
Robert R. Redfield, MD
Recognition
Introduction
Derek E. Spencer, MS, CRNP
The HIV Epidemic And Historical Context For “Life Don’t Have To End.”
Jamie L. Mignano, RN, MSN, MPH
The Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency Act (Ryan White CARE Act)
The Current HIV Epidemic in the United States
HIV in Baltimore, Maryland
How has the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program impacted the lives of people living with HIV?
History of the JACQUES Initiative
History of the JACQUES Initiative Support Group
Cricket’s Commentary
About the Photographers
My “Dear Reader” Story
Cricket Barrazotto ~ Book Visionary
Identity, Morality and Me

OUR STORIES
Life Changing Moments
Anonymous 2 (Excerpt)
Albert C.
Alex B.
Alex T.
Alex Y.
Andre M.
Andre S.
Anthony W.
Antionette C.
Booty
Calvin P.
Ce-Ce
Cynthia R.
Dale
Daphne M.
Darlene B.
Debra H.
Dee-Dee.
Dorothy N.
Duncan W.
Gerald J.
Gregory McC.
Halfpint
Janet D.
Janet Y.
Jayvon L. (Excerpt)
Jeanne M.
Jessica J.
Joe A. (Excerpt)
Joseph F.
Joseph R.
Joy W.
Judith S.
Kathy B.
Kithia G.
Larry B.
Lawrence D.
Lee N.
Linda H.
Marian T.
Michael B.
Nicole E.
Norman B.
Odell A.
Pearlee P.
P.J.
Ricardo S.
Ruby B.
Sharon B.
Steven G.
Thomas W.
Timothy S.
Tymeshia J.
Walter R.
William G.
Pictures, Stories, Words

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
“LIFE DON’T HAVE TO END.”...
GLOSSARY
RESOURCES
Local Resources & Services: Baltimore, Maryland
General Resources
PROCEEDS
What Now?
Go Deeper
Apply
Take Action
About the Title
“Life Don’t Have to End.”

The title, “Life Don’t Have to End.” , is a direct quote from one of the book’s contributors, Calvin. Calvin, and every other contributor to “Life Don’t Have to End.” , attend a weekly support group or other clinic activities at the JACQUES Initiative, an HIV clinic at the Institute of Human Virology of the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. Over the course of two years, I collected the life stories of JACQUES clients like Calvin.
When I would see Calvin at JACQUES each Wednesday, I asked him when he was going to tell me his story. Always friendly, yet equally as dismissive, Calvin kept delaying our meeting. One Wednesday, I was preparing to leave JACQUES when I called out to Calvin. “Hey Calvin, when are you going to sit with me and give me your contribution for the book?”
Rather than dodging me this particular morning, Calvin stood in front of me and spoke, “Cricket, the only thing that I have to say for the book is, life don’t have to end. That’s what I want any reader to know about living with HIV. Life don’t have to end. ”
Calvin’s simple statement, this direct quote, serves as a powerful reflection on the overall content of the book. It is one man’s personal contribution to the work of many. It is straight forward and simultaneously a powerful admonition that the journey of life, with all of its ups and downs, continues in the presence of HIV.

Cricket Barrazotto
August 2013
Teardrop Tattoo | Photo by Kithia Gray I cried because I couldn’t play basketball. I cried because I was scared to say that I was HIV positive. I cried because of deceit, that my mother didn’t tell me. I cried because I felt alone. I cried because HIV left me disabled. I cried.
– Ce-Ce
Foreword
Robert R. Redfield, MD

I have spent more than 30 years caring for women and men living with HIV infection. Over the years I have witnessed tremendous scientific discovery that led to the development of highly successful treatments. Thirty years ago much of my role as a physician was limited to trying to do my best to care for my patients with AIDS, as well as their families, and unfortunately in the end, their lives were cut way too short.
Today most people living with HIV infection who are on treatment with antiretroviral medication, can expect to live a natural lifetime. These advancements are a consequence of our nation’s sustained investment in science, the pharmaceutical industry’s focused commitment to translate scientific discovery into practical medical solutions, the commitment of doctors, clinical researchers, and their health care teams to do what they could to advance discovery to practice by conducting clinical trials, and most importantly, to the courage and persistence of thousands of men, women, and children who dared to hope and volunteered in numerous clinical research trials that brought us to where we are today.
That said, the thing that is most remarkable to me though, is the gift I continue to experience as I witness the transformational impact that HIV infection has on the lives of those I have been privileged to serve.
Hundreds of patients have taught me that the diagnosis of HIV infection was not the end of hope but rather the beginning. These courageous men and women have inspired all of us to see and touch life fully, as it was always meant to be lived.
I have come to learn deep in my heart that these women and men are actually our teachers; modern day saints guiding many of us without HIV infection, back from the all-consuming distractions of day to day life, back to what is truly important.
Cricket Barrazotto and the strong stories and images portrayed in “Life Don’t Have to End.” should open both our hearts and our heads. Each story and each image brings to life common themes of perseverance, dignity, service to others and hope. Each story brings a sense of purpose to us all, spotlighting the opportunity that all of us have each day to do all we can to restore human dignity and put into practice the transcendental values sacred to us all.
UNDER THE ARCH | Photo by Albert Carolina