— 

Mr. Shaw, my partner of thirteen years, battled HIV for seven years before dying of liver failure caused by AIDS medications drug-drug interactions. Carl died, prematurely, October 6, 1995.

Nine months before his death, I completed analyzing his lab results, uncovering untreated anemia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia; we then confronted Carl’s doctor about a 22-month course of treatment with alfa Interferon, without clinical signs of medication benefit, and without a preliminary liver biopsy.  But by then it was too late to reverse damage to his liver, which ultimately was his cause of death.

Mr. Salinas, a gay activist and journalist, was the former editor of the Bay Area Reporter in San Francisco. “Mike Salinas fought AIDS organizations he felt were corrupt.”  Mike died July 15, 2003.

Salinas encouraged me at San Francisco AIDS Foundation Board of Director’s meetings to hold AIDS organizations accountable for their stewardship of AIDS funds.

Ms. Hort, my eight-year-old niece, was born with cerebral palsy.  She was a United Way poster child in southeastern Wisconsin in 2002.  She died unexpectedly and prematurely July 24, 2003, possibly from heart failure.

Caprice communicated with her eyes and her infectious smile.  Her courage was her greatest strength, inspiring everyone who met her.