Doubt this one has been asked before...

[EmersonAilidh]

Ever since reading & The Band Played On by Randy Shilts I've felt a need to get out there & help with my community's AIDS programs. DFW is a fairly large urban area so we have multiple options but I wanted to run this by my cyberfamily first seeing as how I don't know any other immunosuppressed kids personally. I'm going up to the first center on Sunday so obviously I'll be asking them all of these questions as well, but I didn't want to leave any stone unturned & figured coming on here couldn't hurt.

 

If you know me, you probably know why my Mom has given me the affectionate monicker of "Carrier Monkey". Yes, I get infections very often but rarely if ever are they casually transmissible save for strep, which I haven't tested positive for in nearly two years. It's not as if I could give someone infected with HIV PITAND or Lyme or any of the other smaller, weirder infections I tend to come across. So my question is basically this; could either of us pose a risk to eachother? I know that AIDS patients, around here at least, don't want to pseudo-quarantine themselves & for the most part acknowledge that stepping outside means risking infection. If I've never gotten anything that couldn't be prevented from being transmitted (no sharing drinks, etc..) before, should I be wary of possibly getting someone sick? & on the flip side of that, although my immune state obviously doesn't even begin to compare to that of an AIDS patient is there cause to worry that I could catch an infection like Pneumocystis from them?

[SarahJane]

You are to be commended for your desire to volunteer. This is definitely something you can discuss with your mom and anyone that organizes volunteer activities. While many people want to do the up front and visible activities involved with charities, there are likely A LOT of behind the scenes jobs that need to be done. I'm sure any organization would be happy to have any help you could give them.

 

P.S. I got that book a few months to re-read. I know it's going to make me mad again. Probably madder this time since I've done all this other research.

[jenbug]

I am not a doc or anything, but I think that it would be possible to pass around anything that is a co-infection, since the immune systems of both are weak? also, that is great example of you volunteering at such a young age! We need that type of example in all communities! Keep up the good work

[EmersonAilidh]

Sarah ~ I figured a desk job would be better than nothing! I am going up there tomorrow so I will comment this again. :3 that book made me SO angry. I would love to raid your library.

 

Jenbug ~ yeah, I'm just wondering about casually transmissible ones. I know the vast majority of What I get can't be passed on but I'll be sure to check with them. Thank you.