by Jennifer Smith

Created on: January 19, 2008

Paradise

Small hands clasp a cold glass of water on a typical summer day in the Caribbean. Large eyes anticipate eagerly the candy that is being passed around the room. The room is strewn with bed pans, very outdated hospital beds, and the only noise that can be heard is the crinkling of the candy wrappers. The child, all of 52 pounds stares blankly out a glassless window. The tropical breeze blows her blond hair, or at least what is left of it. If you look closely in the reflection of her eyes you will see a horrific sight. No one has to tell her she is dying. No one has to tell her she has been dealt a bad hand at life. A picture of her mother, a tall black woman with long wispy hair sits by her bedside. She would like to tell you more about her mother, but sadly, the only thing she knows is her mother made her sick.

Outside, a mere 2500 feet, lies the epicenter of paradise. Crisp blue ocean water extends its hands to all who will join in the fun. There is life here, this is a tropical wonderland! The euphoric noises of unexpecting tourist float around in the city like butterflies. There visit will be short lived, but the experience will be beautiful, none the less. Their reality is false in that the picture they see on the pristine beaches does not represent the struggle that the indigenous face on a daily basis. Medical care is often out of reach in many villages and the hospitals that are operational are often not adequate treatment centers for people facing this deadly virus. Who would have ever thought a place such as this could be one of the deadliest places in the earth.

The HIV/AIDS epidemic wrecked havoc on our illusion of prosperity. At the end of 2003, an estimated 1,039,000 to 1,185,000 persons in the United States were living with HIV/AIDS, with 24-27% undiagnosed and unaware of their HIV infection. The cumulative estimated number of diagnoses of AIDS through 2005 in the United States and dependent areas was 984,155. Of these, 952,629 were in the 50 states and District of Columbia and 30,386 were in the dependent areas. In the 50 states and District of Columbia, adult and adolescent AIDS cases totaled 943,525 with 761,723 cases in males and 181,802 cases in females, and 9,101 cases estimated in children under age 13. ( CDC statistical Data) These are not just statistics, these are our mothers and fathers, wives and husbands, brothers and sisters, and friends.

Surely there death is more important than the child above. Or, is it?
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