A Burden of Silence: My Mother's Battle with AIDS

A Burden of Silence: My Mothers Battle with AIDS is a heartwarming story of an affectionate bond between a daughter and her sixty-six year old mother who was transfused with HIV positive blood during heart bypass surgery. It will evoke emotions of faith inspiration anger and overwhelming love. The reader will also smile at the funny tender moments that Ms. Draper writes about in her story. This is a devoted daughters story of her elderly mothers painful and lonely journey through AIDS. Because her mother was not part of a so-called AIDS risk group she felt ignored rejected stigmatized and ashamed. For years she suffered in excruciating silence. Nancy has given her mothers story a voice. There are lessons for everyone in this book-lessons about acceptance compassion and forgiveness. -Ann Webster Ph.D. director HIV/AIDS Program Mind/Body Institute Boston MA Nancy Draper has written a tender account of a daughters devotion to her dying mother. This story about a grandmother who developed AIDS from a contaminated blood transfusion will inspire admiration for Ms. Drapers courage and persistence. It will also inspire rage against the blood banks that failed to screen blood donations adequately. -Ann Pozen Psy.D. president National Association for Victims of Transfusion-Acquired AIDS Inc. Bethesda MD This book is a must read-It teaches us about the importance of embracing AIDS patients as human beings. We need to provide them with compassion and empathy instead of treating them as if they were dirty untouchable unworthy people. In the end I believe it is people like Nancys mother teaching us about love and acceptance. Hopefully her dying in silence will wake us up! -Maggie Sund Ph.D. Central Oregon Counseling and Coaching Nancy Drapers mother told her I want you to write about me having AIDS because I dont want anyone else to suffer in silence like we have. Nancys mother must be very proud of her and this account of three years of fear heartache some good days and always deep love. Here Nancy tells the rest of a story that she summarized in our March 1999 issue and wrote under a pseudonym. Thanks Nancy! -Father Pat McCloskey O.F.M. Editor St. Anthony Messenger