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Students learn about AIDS firsthand

GULF HIGH SCHOOL, Dec. 9, 2000 - Gulf High School tenth graders today heard some of the facts about AIDS from two people who suffer from the disease.

The two men, from the Hernando-Pasco People With Aids Speakers Bureau, talked to about a hundred students during each of the six periods on December 9. School Nurse Mrs. Girardi said that similar presentations have been done at Gulf High School during the last eight years as part of the school's AIDS education program.

Jerry, the first speaker, told the students he was infected in 1991 and he first became sick in October 1996. He had to quit his job the following April. He takes 40 pills per day, from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. The drugs cost $30,000 per year.

Jerry said he has been through 14 combinations of drugs and that next week is a "make or break week" because he will learn whether he has to stop taking drugs, in which case doctors will only be able to treat the various infections he may get as a result of his weakened immune system.

Jack has been a teacher and a classically-trained singer. He said his work as a choral conductor has been reviewed by the Washington Post. He said he was diagnosed in 1985 but initially went into denial because he had no symptoms for nine years.

However he has lost the use of one eye and has lost 30% of his vision in the other eye because of retinitis caused by a cytomegalovirus. He has had to give up his career in music and education. He said he also takes 40 pills per day and on some days has been unable to get out of bed because of weakness caused by the drugs.

Both speakers described side effects of the drug therapy as "horrific."

Mrs. Girardi said that the Gulf High School AIDS education program also includes an interactive arts presentation called "the Face of AIDS" for juniors, and a play presented to seniors.