Soror Rae Lewis-Thornton
 

Sorors and Sisterfriends,

In celebration of World Aids Day, my chapter brought our DiSTinguished Soror Rae Lewis Thornton to our campus to speak about her life and living with AIDS. She opened my eyes to a lot of things...I realized how petty it is to complain about how tired I am everyday, THIS WOMAN SOME DAYS CAN'T EVEN GET UP OUT OF THE BED AND WALK, let alone me talk about how tired I am. How I am so ready to graduate, THIS WOMAN CAN FIND SOMETHING TO ENJOY WITH EVERY MOMENT/EVERY SECOND OF LIFE THAT GOD GIVES US...AND SHE IS DYING. Or the nitpicky little things that people do everyday to get on my nerves. THIS WOMAN HAS HAD TO PUT UP WITH THE HATRED,STARES AND NEGATIVITY THAT COMES ALONG WITH THE IGNORANCE OF OTHER PEOPLE BECAUSE OF A DISEASE THAT SHE IS DYING FROM. And I have the audacity to complain about something,hmph! (rolling my eyes).

And lastly, when I asked her if she could have done anything differently with her life, would she? She answered NO, what a testimonial to the strength that this woman has. She said that if she would not have acquired this awful disease, she would have never had the chance to spread a message...even though life has surely given her a cloud, she is still able to find a silver lining! She is still able to find something POSITIVE about her situation.

Sorry for the long post, but if you ever have the chance to hear our Soror speak, please do so, it is an opportunity of a lifetime! And I promise you, you won't regret it!!!

Hello Ladies,

I know that hearing and meeting Rae Lewis Thornton and what she goes through on a daily basis with no griping makes you put your own life in a much different perspective. Conspiracy2 like you said the stuff that we nitpick about is minor compared to what she is going through. I have read many articles about her and she has inspired me to live everyday to it's fullest and not sweat the small stuff.


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Peace
KL

Rae Lewis Thornton WAS AT MY SCHOOL RECENTLY ALSO. SHE MADE ME SIT BACK AND THINK ABOUT THINGS. I REALIZED THAT I SHOULD BE THANKING GOD EVERY SINGLE MOMENT OF THE DAY THAT I AM ALIVE, HEALTHY, GOING TO SCHOOL TO GET AN EDUCATION AND DOING THE BEST THAT I COULD, BECAUSE THINGS COULD ALWAYS BE WORSE THAN THEY ARE. I'M GLAD THAT I WAS ABLE TO GO HEAR HER SPEAK. SHE REALLY HAD AN IMPACT ON ME, AND THOUGH IT ALL SHE THANKS GOD FOR EVERYTHING AND SAYS THAT SHE WOULDN'T BE HERE WITHOUT HIM. THAT'S WHAT YOU CALL FAITH AND TRUST IN GOD.


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All of our dreams can come true- if we have the courage to pursue them.

Soror, you are so right! We need to appreciate what we have. I look forward to meeting Soror Lewis-Thornton. My chapter is working to have her speak for our Founder's Day program next year and I am really excited.

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MCCOYRED

Dynamic
Salient
Temperate

Mu Psi '86
BaltCo Alumnae

I heard Soror Thornton speak at the Convention this year. I didn't know that she was doing speaking engagements in the states. I thought she was going to Africa.

Can a soror who has had her at your school or chapter function put me in touch with her? We would like to have her speak in March.

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Director #2
LMAC, Spr 99
Galveston Council of Greeks NPHC, President

Hello Sorors,
Tonight I had the distinct pleasure to hear SOROR RAE LEWIS-THORNTON speak. She was uplifting, inspiring, and informative. She painted a vivid picture of part of her life with AIDS. Can ANY of you imagine taking 23 pills a day EVERY DAY? She also put to words the reality of Magic Johnson's HIV situation.

Her words have made me realize that truly SEXUAL HEALTH, SEXUAL RESPONSIBILITY and all that it involves is the MOST IMPORTANT HEALTH ISSUE FACING US. The numbers involving BLACKS, both men and women are shocking.

I urge all who read this, if you have not ever done so to have an AIDS test. I will.

Lastly, side note, thanks to the Epsilon Chapter of DST for hosting their May Week around Sexual Health issues. Soror Snoopy922, it was wonderful to meet you and your sands.
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He who asks questions cannot avoid the answers.

Rain does not fall on one roof alone.

Words are like eggs: when they are hatched they have wings.

Advise and counsel him; if he does not listen, let adversity teach him.

What one hopes for is always better than what one has.

[This message has been edited by CrimsonTide4 (edited May 08, 2001).]

Hi, Sorors and SF!

I am glad to hear that someone took the message from my Soror's talk yesterday. I, along with some of my sands had the DSTinct pleasure of going out to lunch with her. She is really the epitome of what a true Soror of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is and should be. Soror Rae Lewis-Thornton's talk was definitely the highlight of my chapter's May Week (and my week, for that matter). Thanks, CT4 for coming to my chapter's program.
We really appreciate it!

Angel

11-E-01

[This message has been edited by snoopy922 (edited May 09, 2001).]

Most definately Sorors...and have any of you ever heard her talk about how long she has wanted to be a Delta and how long she has had to wait!!!

I have heard her talk about that. I am very proud of her and equally proud that she is a Soror. We are truly blessed.

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P.H.A.S.A.D.
#14
D.S.G.H.O.S.T.S.
LAMBDA
4/15/00

I had the opportunity last night to hear Rae Lewis Thornton to speak.

Actually she attended my school for 2 years...before failing out in which she made the point of being involved in extracurricular activies too much she forgot that she actually had to go to class.

I wish all of the African American students could attend this speaking of her, but "Lil Scrappy" was here...so I'm guessing he was more entertaining.

Anyways she had me in tears from laughter, and in tears from hurt that she has to go through everyday of her life. Especially when she admitted that she just found out she is now immune to the AIDS medicine that they are giving her, meaning she is just waiting out her time.

She has truely effected my life in ways that I cannot imagine.

GO SALUKIS!

Recent Interview
 

http://blackvoices.aol.com/black_lif...28133509990001

An Epidemic Among Us
by Latif Lewis, blackenterprise.com

Born into a dysfunctional family with two heroin-addicted parents, Rae Lewis-Thornton is no stranger to adversity. But the healthy-looking, divorced, 43-year-old woman, living with full-blown AIDS for 14 years, has a strong message for African Americans. Taking the cards she's been dealt, coupled with an infectious zest for life, she is educating other African Americans, who are disproportionately infected by the disease, on prevention and treatment.

In her new self-published book Amazing Grace: Letters Along My Journey ($14.95), Lewis-Thornton chronicles her 10 years of speaking, letters from those she's touched, and the changing attitudes of HIV/AIDS.


Q: How did you find out that you were infected?

A: I was diagnosed with HIV 19 years ago. I donated blood and what I thought was a thank you letter was a letter telling me that something was wrong with the blood I donated. For seven years I lived in denial. When I made a transition to AIDS, somewhere around the eighth year, I went public. People know me most for being that woman to help to change the face of AIDS. [Lewis-Thornton has appeared on BET, 'Nightline,' the cover of Essence magazine, and won an Emmy for a CBS series on living with AIDS.]

I have been living with HIV for almost 22 years. I have been living with full blown AIDS for 14 years. And I still don't' look sick. I wasn't promiscuous. I lived a normal live. I dated in the name of love and I had sex in the name of love, but I still ended up with HIV.

Q: Why is it important for African Americans to get tested for HIV?

A:The earlier you know your HIV status, the longer you live. Most African Americans, however, are diagnosed with AIDS, not with HIV. So by the time they find out they're infected, they've already been infected for 8-10 years, they've already infected other people, and they don't benefit from treatment like our white counterparts with HIV do. So testing is probably one of the most serious health concerns for African Americans today.

Q: How can African Americans get over the stigma of having AIDS, starting a dialogue, and the fear of getting tested?

A: We need to move beyond the traditional boundaries in the African American community. The broader the coalition is around HIV, the more people begin to accept the fact that this is a reality. African Americans are in denial across this country. We are 54% of the AIDS cases, but we are 13% of the population. So it's going to take a village to stop this.

Q: Living with AIDS for so long, has treatment been a financial burden for you?

A: I have good healthcare and I don't have health insurance. I go to the Court Center which is owned by Cook County Hospital in Chicago. It's the state-of-the-art HIV infection and disease center. I get my medicines for free.

No one will insure me. I lost my health insurance about five years before I made the transition to AIDS [after several job changes. When it was time to reapply for health insurance, it was denied because it was then considered a preexisting condition]. So I have not had health insurance for 15 years.

Most people in their cities can go to the clinic that treats HIV and get treatment. There's a federally funded/state-funded, drug program called ADAP. It's a drug assistance program specifically for people with HIV. If you qualify, [they] will send the medicine to your house. [Also] public assistance does pay for HIV treatment and HIV medicines.

Q: How is your love life?

A: The reality is my HIV status has not hindered my dating life. Men are still willing to have sex with me-men are still willing to date me. And that is a testament to the fact that we all need to know our HIV status, because you don't know who's infected.

To not know could mean the difference between how long you live or how quick you die.

I'll never forget listening to her when she spoke at my alma mater (this was in '93). She is a very good speaker.

On another note, this happened before she became a Delta. Right before her presentation, she was just out looking into the crowd, making small talk (saying what's up, etc.). She then spotted a member of DST wearing a tshirt with DST in the block greek letters. She walked over to her and said (on mic) "Girl, if there is one thing I could have before I die it would be to wear those letters across my chest." They both laughed, hugged and the Rae went on with her presentation.

She was really down to earth.

I love Soror Rae. What an inspiration!

Soror Rae Lewis Thornton in Charlotte on March 1

Mar. 1 — Rae Lewis-Thornton
"The Understanding and Prevention of HIV"
7:30 pm
Biddle Auditorium (Johnson C Smith campus)