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HIV Patient Thanks CWA for Helping Him Survive and Thrive
Cameron Seimers was 2 years old when he was infected with HIV through a blood transfusion. That was 20 years ago.
Today, Cameron is a college student in California preparing for a career in communications. The virus still threatens his life, and he takes upwards of 30 pills a day to control it.
But thanks in large part to the work of the CWA-supported Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Cameron has survived longer than most HIV victims and looks forward to many more years of relatively good health.
"I just want to thank you for the money you guys donate to research to get new drugs out there," the soft-spoken young man told delegates to the CWA convention, who gave him a standing ovation. "You guys deserve a lot of credit for me standing up here today."
Except for billionaire Bill Gates, CWA is the single largest contributor to the late Elizabeth Glaser's foundation, which raises money for AIDS research and patient care. The foundation, started by three moms around a kitchen table in 1988, became CWA's charity of choice after Glaser spoke at the union's 1990 convention.
CWA President Morton Bahr recalled seeing a card in the foundation's Santa Monica, Calif., office a few years ago from a patient thanking the staff for their work and kindness. The card was from Cameron, who wrote that he had just graduated from high school and "If you listen closely, you can hear my mother's fingers uncrossing."
In all, 404 locals participated in the charity of choice program in 2004, raising a total of $430,615 for the foundation. CWA Secretary-Treasurer Barbara Easterling presented awards to two top fundraising locals.
The Ariel Glaser Award, named for Elizabeth and Paul Michael Glaser's daughter who died of AIDS, is annually presented to the local that raises the most money. For the fourth straight year it went to Local 9400, whose members contributed more than $77,000.
The Hope Award, given to the local that achieved the highest percentage of its quota for contributions, went to Local 2382. Its donations equaled 1,940 percent of its quota.
Cameron's battle isn't as easy as taking medication. He's been in and out of the hospital and has to experiment with new drug "cocktails" as the virus constantly mutates and demands new treatment. A bout with pneumonia last year caused near-fatal complications and later he needed a cane and trainer to regain his mobility.
Because of the strides made in HIV/AIDS research, Cameron says many people are under the impression today that it's fairly easy to treat. But he's had friends who have died and others, like him, who are constantly struggling to find the right combination of medications.
"There are a lot of kids out there who just don't have the money to get the drugs, but the Elizabeth Glaser Foundation is very helpful in that, and I am very, very pleased with what CWA has done for them and is doing for me," he said.
In another form of giving, 118 members who attended the convention volunteered to be tested by the Marrow Foundation as potential marrow donors. Since 1998, CWA has participated in the National Marrow Donor Program, saving the lives of persons with certain blood diseases and aiding in stem cell research.
Today, Cameron is a college student in California preparing for a career in communications. The virus still threatens his life, and he takes upwards of 30 pills a day to control it.
But thanks in large part to the work of the CWA-supported Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Cameron has survived longer than most HIV victims and looks forward to many more years of relatively good health.
"I just want to thank you for the money you guys donate to research to get new drugs out there," the soft-spoken young man told delegates to the CWA convention, who gave him a standing ovation. "You guys deserve a lot of credit for me standing up here today."
Except for billionaire Bill Gates, CWA is the single largest contributor to the late Elizabeth Glaser's foundation, which raises money for AIDS research and patient care. The foundation, started by three moms around a kitchen table in 1988, became CWA's charity of choice after Glaser spoke at the union's 1990 convention.
CWA President Morton Bahr recalled seeing a card in the foundation's Santa Monica, Calif., office a few years ago from a patient thanking the staff for their work and kindness. The card was from Cameron, who wrote that he had just graduated from high school and "If you listen closely, you can hear my mother's fingers uncrossing."
In all, 404 locals participated in the charity of choice program in 2004, raising a total of $430,615 for the foundation. CWA Secretary-Treasurer Barbara Easterling presented awards to two top fundraising locals.
The Ariel Glaser Award, named for Elizabeth and Paul Michael Glaser's daughter who died of AIDS, is annually presented to the local that raises the most money. For the fourth straight year it went to Local 9400, whose members contributed more than $77,000.
The Hope Award, given to the local that achieved the highest percentage of its quota for contributions, went to Local 2382. Its donations equaled 1,940 percent of its quota.
Cameron's battle isn't as easy as taking medication. He's been in and out of the hospital and has to experiment with new drug "cocktails" as the virus constantly mutates and demands new treatment. A bout with pneumonia last year caused near-fatal complications and later he needed a cane and trainer to regain his mobility.
Because of the strides made in HIV/AIDS research, Cameron says many people are under the impression today that it's fairly easy to treat. But he's had friends who have died and others, like him, who are constantly struggling to find the right combination of medications.
"There are a lot of kids out there who just don't have the money to get the drugs, but the Elizabeth Glaser Foundation is very helpful in that, and I am very, very pleased with what CWA has done for them and is doing for me," he said.
In another form of giving, 118 members who attended the convention volunteered to be tested by the Marrow Foundation as potential marrow donors. Since 1998, CWA has participated in the National Marrow Donor Program, saving the lives of persons with certain blood diseases and aiding in stem cell research.