Adoption and HIV

When you hear HIV, what do you think ?

 

I remember when I first heard of AIDS and HIV - at the time, there was a major panic about this new disease, and a lot of disinformation.  I was working at a summer camp for disabled children, and remember helping write the camp's handbook about Universal Precautions. 


 

I remember that up until that point, we had never used gloves to change diapers or deal with cuts and grazes - and I remember hating to wear those gloves, as I thought it would make the kids feel bad in some way.


 

I remember being scared that a kid might have a nosebleed, or throw up, and I would get the virus by coming into contact with their blood or vomit. 

I remember when the wife of my favorite TV actor at the time, Paul Michael Glaser (of "Starsky and Hutch" fame) contracted HIV through a blood transfusion. She passed it on to her two children, and died after 10 years - her daughter, Ariel, also died.

I remember many famous people dying of AIDS related illnesses.

 

 

I remember a lot of publicity, and mostly I remember thinking that if I ever came into contact with the bodily fluids of an infected individual, that I absolutely would also get the disease.  I thought that because that is what we were told, and who was I to not believe it ?
 

So, for many many years, HIV and AIDS has been a mysterious, scary disease for me - and many others, I am sure.  When I moved from the UK to the USA in 1997, I had to have a medical in order to be granted residency. Part of that medical exam was a test for HIV - if I had been positive, I would not have been able to move to the USA to live with my new husband. 

Thankfully, time has shown that even though HIV and AIDS are still around, they really aren't as scary as once believed.  HIV is a chronic, but manageable disease. With the use of modern-day antiretroviral medications, those with a diagnosis of HIV can live an average life span.



Since 2010, immigration rules have changed, and there is no longer an AIDS test as part of the medical exam - HIV is no longer a barrier to anyone wishing to live in the USA.

Also - the spread of the disease is nowhere near as easy as once thought.

HIV can NOT be spread through casual/household contact. HIV is NOT spread through hugging, kissing, shaking hands, sharing toys, sneezing, coughing, sharing food, sharing drinks, bathing, swimming or any other casual way.

 

It has been proven that HIV can only be spread through sexual contact, birth, breastfeeding and intravenously (such as used needles and blood transfusions).

There are several children listed with Reece's Rainbow, who are available for adoption, who are living with HIV.  These children are all innocent victims of this terrible disease - most probably passed on to them when born or through breastfeeding.  Other than  being HIV+, these children are kids, just like yours or mine.  They are children who need a family. 

 

Some of the children just have HIV, some have additional special needs.

  

 

 

The sad fact is that once children with HIV age out of the orphanage system, they have nowhere to go. 

 

In Ukraine and Russia, 10-15% of HIV+ children who age out of an orphanage commit suicide by age 18.

60% of the girls are lured into prostitution.

70% of the boys become hardened criminals.
 

Again - these are children who were never given a chance.

Children who, if adopted, could have lived a normal life, just like you and I.

Please see these children - they truly need a family before it is too late - before they are out on the streets, before they become just another statistic.

Below I will highlight some of the older children - they all have a $10,000 adoption grant available to help with adoption expenses !!

Alexandra is 13 years old. According to her close friend, who was adopted, she is very sweet, neat, loyal, and loves to help. She was not treated well at the orphanage, so was sent to a different school.


Sarai has HIV, as well as additional special needs. She was born in 2003.  She needs to be adopted by a family with no young children.


Sabin is 11 years old, and also has other special needs, too. He is said to be very careful and orderly, and is described as being helpful.


Scottie is running out of time - he will turn 16 in August of this year - if he is not adopted by then, he will be out of the system - out on the streets - and his life will not be good.  He is desperate for a family, as he knows what is facing him in the future. He is a good student and sportsman - he is kind hearted and well behaved.


Avery's profile doesn't have much info about him, other than his birthdate - June 2004.  To me, he looks like a little boy, a year younger than my own son.
He looks like a boy who needs a family. A boy who wants to go to school, make friends, play soccer, eat candy, play in the mud and just be a normal boy with a family.


The kids shown above are, first and foremost, kids.  Children who were abandoned because of their HIV status.
Children who desperately need a family before it is too late. 
Children who can live perfectly normal lives - yes, they will need medication every day - but other than that, they are children.
Children with hopes and dreams, just like any other child.

ALL OF THE CHILDREN SHOWN - AND MORE - ARE ELIGIBLE FOR A $10,000 ADOPTION GRANT THOUGH REECES RAINBOW !!!
Please click HERE to see their profiles.

For younger children, please click HERE (children aged 6-9 years) and HERE (for children up to age 5).