AIDS Hits Home
In December of 1988 our middle son, Fred informed Etta Mae and me that he was HIV positive. Four
months latter, we learned from our oldest son, Tim, that he also was infected with the AIDS virus. AIDS was
up close and personal for us. Our dear sons were on a journey toward death. Both died in just a few
months.
A huge hole was left in our lives. It can never be filled with total healing. Yet we live by faith and gradually
we have moved from suffering to sharing, from aching heart to advocacy. We have written a book, Dancing
In A Wheelchair, that thousands have read. We have told our story in scores of places. We have learned
to be tough in the face of hostile judgment. We have given our lives to witnessing.
Now we serve as coordinators of the United Methodist Global AIDS Fund and our task is to help the church
break the silence, overcome the denial and end the stigma with the worst health crisis the world has ever
known. We are scarred and we are changed forever. Thanks be to God!
Bishop Fritz Mutti
The United Methodist Church
Co-Chairperson, The United Methodist Global AIDS Fund
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