Ryan White Quotes

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Ryan White

Profession : Celebrity

Birth : December 6, 1971

I was labeled a troublemaker, my mom an unfit mother, and I was not welcome anywhere.

Ryan White

AIDS can destroy a family if you let it, but luckily for my sister and me, Mom taught us to keep going. Don't give up, be proud of who you are, and never feel sorry for yourself.

Ryan White

Financial hardships were rough on us, even though Mom had a good job at G.M.

Ryan White

I came face to face with death at thirteen years old.

Ryan White

We had great faith that with patience, understanding, and education, that my family and I could be helpful in changing their minds and attitudes around.

Ryan White

Because of the lack of education on AIDS, discrimination, fear, panic, and lies surrounded me.

Ryan White

On December 17, 1984, I had surgery to remove two inches of my left lung due to pneumonia. After two hours of surgery the doctors told my mother I had AIDS.

Ryan White

Even at church, people would not shake my hand.

Ryan White

Given six months to live and being the fighter that I am, I set high goals for myself.

Ryan White

People would get up and leave so they would not have to sit anywhere near me.

Ryan White

Eventually, I won the right to attend school, but the prejudice was still there.

Ryan White

Twice a week I would receive injections or IV's of Factor VIII which clotted the blood and then broke it down.

Ryan White

A lot of my time was spent searching, thinking and planning my life.

Ryan White

Entertainers, athletes, and stars started giving me support.

Ryan White

How could these people in the public eye not be afraid of me, but my whole town was?

Ryan White

I believe in myself as I look forward to graduating from Hamilton Heights High School in 1991.

Ryan White

I received thousands of letters of support from all around the world, all because I wanted to go to school.

Ryan White

I'm just one of the kids, and all because the students at Hamilton Heights High School listened to the facts, educated their parents and themselves, and believed in me.

Ryan White

Listening to medical facts was not enough. People wanted one hundred percent guarantees.

Ryan White

Mayor Koch, of New York, was the first public figure to give me support.

Ryan White