White-Ginder closes Health Awareness Week at SMWC
Issue date: 2/18/09 Section: News
By Danya Long
Staff writer
Health Awareness Week sponsored by Student Senate at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College came to a close with a great speaker, also part of the Four-Star Series. Jeanne White-Ginder, the mother of Ryan White, came to speak to students, faculty, staff, and the surrounding community at SMWC and tell her story on Feb. 12.
White-Ginder made sure the audience knew that she is just a mom. She was the mother of a boy diagnosed with AIDS in a time when little was known about the disease. In 1984, Ryan White was diagnosed with AIDS. He contracted the disease from a blood product transfusion that he was using in order to help with his hemophilia. The doctors gave him 3-6 months to live, but Ryan outlived his odds and survived for over five years after being diagnosed. Ryan took his last breath on April 8, 1990 at the age of 18.
"Losing a child is the worst pain any mother could go through," said White-Ginder during her presentation. She took the audience on an emotional rollercoaster. There were tears and laughs all night as she graces everyone with heartwarming, saddening, and humorous stories about her late son Ryan. She also showed two videos, one a short documentary about Ryan produced by West 57th Street and the other a music video that Michael Jackson sang and produced dedicated to Ryan's life.
White-Ginder said a very hard thing for her to deal with was the fact that her hometown was questioning her son's illness and his life. Her hometown of Kokomo, IN was also the birthplace of Ryan and his sister Andrea. White-Ginder doesn't go back to Kokomo after the harsh treatment her family received there. The town holds too many bad memories and hard feelings to relive for White-Ginder.
Ryan became a national advocate for people with AIDS. He appeared on talk shows and even had a movie made of his life. Ryan got the fame from his work in the media, but White-Ginder made sure that the people deserved the fame got some of it as well. She recognized those people and organizations that contributed to the education of AIDS. The American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR), mainly ran by the homosexual community at the time of Ryan's life, was the main savior for the White family. "I called amfAR, and it was the best thing I've ever done," said Ginder-White. She gave a special thank you to Terry Beirn, a founding staff member of amfAR, who helped the family through a time when nothing was known about AIDS.
Staff writer
Health Awareness Week sponsored by Student Senate at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College came to a close with a great speaker, also part of the Four-Star Series. Jeanne White-Ginder, the mother of Ryan White, came to speak to students, faculty, staff, and the surrounding community at SMWC and tell her story on Feb. 12.
White-Ginder made sure the audience knew that she is just a mom. She was the mother of a boy diagnosed with AIDS in a time when little was known about the disease. In 1984, Ryan White was diagnosed with AIDS. He contracted the disease from a blood product transfusion that he was using in order to help with his hemophilia. The doctors gave him 3-6 months to live, but Ryan outlived his odds and survived for over five years after being diagnosed. Ryan took his last breath on April 8, 1990 at the age of 18.
"Losing a child is the worst pain any mother could go through," said White-Ginder during her presentation. She took the audience on an emotional rollercoaster. There were tears and laughs all night as she graces everyone with heartwarming, saddening, and humorous stories about her late son Ryan. She also showed two videos, one a short documentary about Ryan produced by West 57th Street and the other a music video that Michael Jackson sang and produced dedicated to Ryan's life.
White-Ginder said a very hard thing for her to deal with was the fact that her hometown was questioning her son's illness and his life. Her hometown of Kokomo, IN was also the birthplace of Ryan and his sister Andrea. White-Ginder doesn't go back to Kokomo after the harsh treatment her family received there. The town holds too many bad memories and hard feelings to relive for White-Ginder.
Ryan became a national advocate for people with AIDS. He appeared on talk shows and even had a movie made of his life. Ryan got the fame from his work in the media, but White-Ginder made sure that the people deserved the fame got some of it as well. She recognized those people and organizations that contributed to the education of AIDS. The American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR), mainly ran by the homosexual community at the time of Ryan's life, was the main savior for the White family. "I called amfAR, and it was the best thing I've ever done," said Ginder-White. She gave a special thank you to Terry Beirn, a founding staff member of amfAR, who helped the family through a time when nothing was known about AIDS.
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