We like to think that we would never intentionally put ourselves or our children 'at risk'. However it is helpful to keep in mind that every day we make a choice between Risk and Reward.
If we consider these activities to be worth the risk, then surely having the love of a child and the privilege of saving a life is worth the comparably small and (according to experts) FAR less dangerous 'risk'.
93 deaths every DAY in car accidents-that’s 4 every hour
10 deaths every DAY from swimming accidents
8 deaths every DAY from fire accidents
4.9 deaths every DAY from falling on stairs
2.5 deaths every DAY from choking
1.5 deaths every WEEK from lightning strikes
4.4 deaths every YEAR from amusement park rides
Over the past 28 years that HIV/AIDS has been carefully tracked by the Centers for Disease Control, there have been only 8 reported, though unconfirmed, cases ofhousehold transmission of the virus. 8 in 28 years 2
(It is important to note that among those 8 cases were hemophiliac brothers sharing razors, some elderly women not using simple universal precautions for years, and some individuals living in bizarrely unsanitary conditions, further proving that under ‘normal’ household conditions, the virus is almost impossible to pass. - Also there have been no further cases since 1994, likely due to vast changes in the ratio of people w/ AIDS vs. HIV and the life altering improvements in medicine.)
· HIV is a virus that infects cells of the immune system.
· Without treatment, HIV is fatal. However WITH treatement people are living almost as long as those without the disease.
· On average, people with HIV need to take medications twice daily. They also need to have lab work and see a specialist quarterly.
· HIV is spread through sex, drug needles and birth.
· HIV is blood borne, not air borne. HIV cannot be spread by saliva, tears, sweat, urine, or feces.
· HIV is not spread through casual, household contact.
· As of 2009 there were over 1 million people with HIV in America.
· Children with HIV are perfectly safe to be around, hug, kiss, and share food and bathrooms with. For this reason, generally people with HIV are not required by law to tell ANYONE about their condition, including schools and even dentists.
Far too many people in the United States still lack basic knowledge about how HIV is and is not transmitted. According to a 2009 national survey conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation, one-third of Americans believed that HIV could be transmitted by sharing a drinking glass, touching a toilet seat, or swimming in a pool with someone who has the virus—all persistent misconceptions. The same survey found that half of adults said they would be uncomfortable having their food prepared by someone with HIV, 42 percent would be uncomfortable with a roommate who had HIV, 23 percent would be uncomfortable with a co-worker with HIV, and 35 percent would be uncomfortable if their child had a teacher with HIV.
The link between ignorance about HIV and stigma toward those with it is clear: 71 percent of the survey respondents who gave incorrect answers about HIV transmission said they would be uncomfortable having their food prepared by someone who had HIV, while only 40 percent of those who gave correct answers said they would be. Forty-three percent of those who gave incorrect answers said they would be uncomfortable working with someone with HIV, while only 13 percent of those who gave correct answers said they would be.
The facts are that your life is more in danger by...jumping on a trampoline, riding bikes, getting into a car, walking down the stairs, playing at the park, playing sports, swimming, etc. than living with someone with HIV.
We went on a 9 day, 3000 mile road trip to Yellowstone. We piled in the car LATE Friday night and drove to St. George Utah. Got up Saturday morning and headed to the Farrer (Barts moms family) Family Reunion for the day.
This is Barts family minus his sister Brooke's husband. We had a blast seeing the whole family. The cabins were next to a little river and the kids jumped in some inner tubes and floated the river with their cousins.
The cabin was beautiful, and the kids referred to it as "The Log Mansion". I got to do a lot of my favorite activity too-READING! I read 2 amazing books from the Gods & Kings series written by Lynn Austin. If you like Francine Rivers you will LOVE Lynn Austin.
The kids were thrilled to get out at every State sign and have their picture taken! (not)
Old Faithful was cool!
The bison were even cooler!
