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4-16-90
Dear Mrs. White,
I don't even know if this letter will ever reach you, but I had to try.
First I would like to say that I am deeply sorry for the loss of your son Ryan. He accomplished more in his short life than most did in an entire lifetime and you must be very proud of him for that. He woke this country up concerning the horrible disease of AIDS and I for one will always remember him for that.
I will also remember him for another very special reason. The day you buried Ryan, my my family and I buried
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my brother. He also lost his battle with Aids.Unlike Ryan though, my brothers battle was a silent battle and only a very few of us knew the real truth. That fact deeply saddins me, but since society can't accept it, it's best left unsaid.
It seems somehow fitting to me that if it had to be, they both died within hours of one another. One represented the nameless many and one represented the very brave and accepted few.
I don't know what I could do but I would like very much to help in the fight to cure AIDS. If you
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know of anything, please contact me. I feel stronger spiritually since Bobs death and want to try and somehow lessen the pain of others and to make sure those who need to know keep [strikethrough] working on a way to end this cruel disease
Sincerely, [redacted]
