Summary Of The Book Love Is The Cure By Ryan White

Ronetta Lewis

12 October, 2014

Ryan White was a little boy born with hemophilia, who contracted HIV through treatment of his hemophilia (factor VIII). It was later discovered that he actually had full-blown AIDS. He was ridiculed and tormented at school ever since. The entire community of Kokomo, Indiana was against him, his family, and any of his supporters (sending death threats, shooting through their house, egging houses). Parents of students had him banned from school because they didn’t want their child to contract the disease, but the fact of the matter is, the community was uneducated because HIV/AIDS isn’t contracted that easily. Through it all, Ryan managed to fight for his education and he eventually won; he was able to go back to school. All he wanted was to be treated like a normal boy and even

You should not kick someone when they’re down, instead, you should help encourage or uplift them. During the 80s and even now, people with HIV/AIDS are frowned upon, as if living with the difficulties of this disease isn’t enough pressure. President Reagan said it best during his long overdue speech in 1987, “It’s also important that America not reject those who have this disease, but care for them with dignity and kindness...This is a battle against disease, not against our fellow Americans.” (pg.45) To Elton John, love is not just the cure for HIV/AIDS, it is the cure for anything. In his case, he was battling addiction, bulimia, and alcoholism. During his time of recovery in rehab, the encouragement, compassion, and love from others is what helped push him to sobriety. Unfortunately for others who were struggling with HIV/AIDS, they were losing their jobs, friends, families and would die a lonely life. Instead of putting out negative energy, people could easily turn that to love and maybe help change someone’s life for the