Ryan White should have turned 40 today. But he died at age 18, after a too-short and tumultuous life in which he battled HIV and the prejudice that surrounded it.
Ryan White should have turned 40 today. But he died April 8, 1990, at age 18, after a too-short and tumultuous life in which he battled HIV and the prejudice that surrounded it — as well as the somewhat unwelcome place in the spotlight his condition thrust upon him.
When White was infected with HIV from a contaminated blood treatment in 1984, AIDS was still a new disease, not widely understood and carrying great stigma. He found himself shunned by classmates and their parents — when he was finally allowed to return to school, that is. After a prolonged absence due to his illness, White was denied re-admission to school, forcing his family into a months-long legal battle with the school board. As he discussed his story with interviewers and local coverage yielded to national attention, White became a poster boy for AIDS awareness. Celebrities rallied to his cause and he became friends with luminaries from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Michael Jackson to Elton John.
When Ryan White died in 1990, those celebrities continued to support his family, turning out for the funeral — Michael Jackson was there, as well as Phil Donahue, Barbara Bush, and 1500 others. Elton John performed a special tribute to the boy who touched his heart.
Since 1990, we’ve made great strides in the fight against HIV/AIDS — just last week, researchers announced new advances in controlling the spread of the virus. And we understand the disease better, allowing those who live with it to lead a more normal life than Ryan White did, with less stigma and prejudice. We still have a ways to go, but we can thank White for all he did to help raise awareness and promote understanding.
