Trudy Simpson, Staff Reporter
WHILE THEY were growing up, 13-year-old Richard and his eight-year-old brother, Jamie, were made to feel different. Mocked by many close to them because they have HIV, the boys often felt isolated.
"Because they have an illness, they made them feel it was a disgusting thing they have," explained Gary, the boys' guardian. According to Gary, there have been many times in the boys' lives when people made them feel like the "devil's spawn".
Owing to these experiences, one of Richard's most fervent wishes was for a loving family. He and Jamie are now part of that, and like any other child, Richard dreams of a profession (a policeman because the police "do good work"). He also enjoys watching cartoons, playing video games and sports.
When he and Jamie learned they were to attend a new school in St. Ann in February, they were happy. "I felt great. I want to read words and to learn," Richard recalled last week. He was also looking forward to doing some of his favourite things, such as playing football with new friends, Richard said.
But shortly after starting at the new school, these dreams were shattered. The reason: the institution, a private prep school, was informed that both children had HIV. Concerned about the impact of having HIV-positive children in school, the institution put their application on hold pending discussion of the children's status with the school board.
SENT HOME
Already saddened because children would not play with them, Richard and his brother were sent home. This is despite the Ministries of Education and Health's HIV management policy in schools, which states that no student should be denied enrolment because of HIV status.
Being sent home "made me sad because otherwise the school was nice. It looked pretty. Now I wish it would shut down," Richard said.
Gary was horrified at what he saw as a confidentiality breach. He moved the children to another private prep school in nearby St. Mary.
HAUNTING MEMORY
The consequences were devastating. Pointed out as HIV-positive by a neighbour from the community in which they lived, the children were booted from the second school. The memory of that day still haunts Richard and his brother. The eight-year-old was still too traumatised to speak about it last week but Richard said he does not like thinking about that day.
The memories of that time still make Gary angry. "They were there for all of one day and they were so hyped and then this happened," he told The Gleaner.
"The boys asked what they had done wrong to be kicked out of school and I explained that it wasn't their fault. But the psychological impact was so great. There should have at least been an apology," Gary said.
The school in St. Ann later relented, and said they would accept the eight-year-old, but as far as Gary is concerned, the damage was already done.
However, he admits that there has been a silver lining for the children.
After months of home schooling, at US$400 (J$24,800) per month, the children were again enrolled in a school in another parish, where they were welcomed although the principal was told about their HIV-positive status. "They are doing better now," Gary said.
Names have been changed on request
