Imagine being 34 years old and having HIV for 10 years - and then having it develop into AIDS. That was the stoy of Mark, a panel member who came to the high school on Dec. 2 to speak to health classes for World AIDS day.
Mark was infected with the HIV virus while having unprotected sex. During the time of his infection he was using alcohol and cocaine. He now speaks to high school students all over Montana, telling students the facts about the viruses and what the effects are.
He told students that the average cost of medication for HIV and AIDS is $2,000 a month. Mark has no idea how long he will live, it could be anywhere from 10 days to five years.
He chose not to use medication because of the side effects; instead he relies on vitamins and a nutritious diet.
Now Mark lives for the quality of live not the quantity.
Along with bringing speakers to the high school, AIDS day entailed a table set up in the foyer offering pamphlets to inform students about the disease. Students could learn facts about AIDS such as that one of four new cases of AIDS and HIV is a heterosexual female.
"AIDS and HIV is spreading in the heterosexual female population." said junior Angie Love when asked why she helped with the day. "It is a disease that affects everyone."
Students in the high school participated for many reasons.
"So many people are ignorant about this type of thing and teens are afraid of it," said junior Sara Tiffany.
"(I want) to help others because I care," said senior Bethany Briney.
"It is a way for the schools to give statistics," said Love of World AIDS day. "And make and impact on the kids that may not have been affected before."
"I felt bad because their life is going to end," said sophomore Krista Wallace. "I already knew someone with AIDS that died, so I already had to experience that. It's sad."
Says the school nurse Margie Piersal - who coordinated the day: "Abstinence is the only 100 percent way to prevent getting AIDS."