Top 31 Quotes & Sayings by Ryan White

Explore popular quotes and sayings by an American celebrity Ryan White.

Last updated on November 21, 2024.

Ryan Wayne White was an American teenager from Kokomo, Indiana, who became a national poster child for HIV/AIDS in the United States after his school barred him from attending classes following a diagnosis of AIDS. As a hemophiliac, he became infected with HIV from a contaminated factor VIII blood treatment and, when diagnosed in December 1984, was given six months to live. Doctors said he posed no risk to other students, as AIDS is not an airborne disease and spreads solely through bodily fluids, but AIDS was poorly understood by the general public at the time. When White tried to return to school, many parents and teachers in Howard County rallied against his attendance due to concerns of the disease spreading through bodily fluid transfer. A lengthy administrative appeal process ensued, and news of the conflict turned Ryan into a popular celebrity and advocate for AIDS research and public education. Surprising his doctors, Ryan White lived five years longer than predicted. He died on April 8, 1990, one month before his high school graduation.

American - Celebrity | December 6, 1971 - April 8, 1990

Source: Wikipedia

Twice a week I would receive injections or IV's of Factor VIII which clotted the blood and then broke it down.

Ryan White

Because of the lack of education on AIDS, discrimination, fear, panic, and lies surrounded me.

Ryan White

The school I was going to said they had no guidelines for a person with AIDS.

Ryan White

We had great faith that with patience, understanding, and education, that my family and I could be helpful in changing their minds and attitudes around.

Ryan White

We began a series of court battles for nine months, while I was attending classes by telephone.

Ryan White

On December 17, 1984, I had surgery to remove two inches of my left lung due to pneumonia. After two hours of surgery the doctors told my mother I had AIDS.

Ryan White

People would get up and leave so they would not have to sit anywhere near me.

Ryan White

Given six months to live and being the fighter that I am, I set high goals for myself.

Ryan White

I'm just one of the kids, and all because the students at Hamilton Heights High School listened to the facts, educated their parents and themselves, and believed in me.

Ryan White

This brought on the news media, TV crews, interviews, and numerous public appearances.

Ryan White

Rumors of sneezing, kissing, tears, sweat, and saliva spreading AIDS caused people to panic.

Ryan White

Entertainers, athletes, and stars started giving me support.

Ryan White

Most recently my battle has been against AIDS and the discrimination surrounding it.

Ryan White

How could these people in the public eye not be afraid of me, but my whole town was?

Ryan White

Listening to medical facts was not enough. People wanted one hundred percent guarantees.

Ryan White

Eventually, I won the right to attend school, but the prejudice was still there.

Ryan White

A lot of my time was spent searching, thinking and planning my life.

Ryan White

Financial hardships were rough on us, even though Mom had a good job at G.M.

Ryan White

I came face to face with death at thirteen years old.

Ryan White

I believe in myself as I look forward to graduating from Hamilton Heights High School in 1991.

Ryan White

My name is Ryan White. I am sixteen years old. I have hemophilia, and I have AIDS.

Ryan White

Mayor Koch, of New York, was the first public figure to give me support.

Ryan White

Even at church, people would not shake my hand.

Ryan White

The desire to move into a bigger house, to avoid living AIDS daily, and a dream to be accepted by a community and school, became possible and a reality with a movie about my life, The Ryan White Story.

Ryan White

My family and I held no hatred for those people because we realized they were victims of their own ignorance.

Ryan White

AIDS can destroy a family if you let it, but luckily for my sister and me, Mom taught us to keep going. Don't give up, be proud of who you are, and never feel sorry for yourself.

Ryan White

My studies are important to me. I made the honor role just recently, with 2 A's and 2 B's.

Ryan White

I was labeled a troublemaker, my mom an unfit mother, and I was not welcome anywhere.

Ryan White

The first five to six years of my life were spent in and out of the hospital.

Ryan White

I received thousands of letters of support from all around the world, all because I wanted to go to school.

Ryan White

I spent Christmas and the next thirty days in the hospital.

Ryan White