Aids without meds is a Killer

My best friend Eddie has a cousin named Raul who is 26 years old and is in the intensive care unit as of 2 days ago.  He has PCP, pneumonia that is brought on by aids.  In normal circumstances one can be medicated, given some breathing treatments and then they can go on their merry way.  Unfortunately this is not going to be the case with Raul.  You see Raul was feeling so well  about a year ago so he decided that since he was feeling this way, he felt that he didn't need to take his meds any longer.  The little money he was able to earn, when he was able to work was better spent on trying to survive since he didn't have health insurance.

That has been over a year ago, without any medicine, and still trying to party like there's no tomorrow and is now suffering the consequences of his bad decision.  He has been in and out of the hospital over the last 8-9 months with trouble breathing and is now down to just a little under 100 pounds and this a young man of 5'6."

The doctors have already spoken to the family and let them know that he probably will not make it through this bout of pneumonia.  He is too weak and too far gone.  He looks like living death to me.  I am heartbroken at why someone would choose to quit taking their medicine like this fully knowing what the consequences of his actions would be.  Of course, I also know what meds cost with insurance muchless without it.  Not an easy feat to achieve.

I am very, very sad.  You hardly hear of Aids and the deaths that it causes anymore.  Almost as if it is one's dirty little secret that shouldn't be spoken of.  I say it needs to be spoken of because people are still dying left and right from this dreaded disease and until there is a cure this will continue.

What is so sad about this with Raul is that inspite of the fact that he has had aids for over 7 years, he has only had his current boyfriend for 3.  That would mean the possibility is very high of other people having been infected.  This too is a terrible thing.  I don't know what more to say about this other than I feel that there needs to be more education in the schools for the kids that still don't know all of the risks involved in having unprotected sex.

I've known Raul since he was a beautiful little boy of six and soon he will be gone.

Any and all prayers will be welcomed.

Thanks.