Ryan White - My Own Story (36 page)

For an understanding of the workings of the AIDS virus, we are most grateful to Edward G. Atkins, Ph.D.; Jeffrey A. Cohen, M.D.; Martin B. Kleiman, M.D.; the Center for Study of Gene Structure and Function at Hunter College of the City University of New York; the Centers for Disease Control; and Sara Nelson. Alvaro J. Simmons, M.S.W.; Richard Wortman, M.D.; and Frances Yancovitz, M.S.W. of the Adolescent Health Center of Mount Sinai Medical Center; and Margaret Hilgartner, M.D., shared their knowledge and observations of teenage hemophiliacs with AIDS.

Several journalists who have covered my family and AIDS also helped us: Jude Dratt, Lisa Hsia, Carrie Jackson Van Dyke, Christopher MacNeil, and Brian Reynolds. For technical assistance at the ballpark, we thank Christopher P. Cunningham, Dan Humphrey, Mary and Robert Ihle, and David M. Rubin.

Our deep appreciation to Children’s Television Workshop, where our work on the science series
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introduced us, and where producer Susan Schwartz Lynn suggested our collaboration. Mary Baker, Sarah Butterfield, Christopher T. Cory, Judy Katz, Elizabeth Leckie, Kate Manning, Elizabeth Mehren, Kate Rousmaniere, and Anna Cory Watson read early drafts and provided incisive criticism and best of all, encouragement.

—Ryan White

My thanks to William Smart, Craig and Sheila Pleasants and the staff of the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, and John Martini of Key West’s Lucky Street Gallery, who provided space, quiet, and freedom to write. Kate Rousmaniere, Betty Engel, Garrett Brown, Sue Grand, Ruth and Sandy Levy, Michael Meltsner, Joel Schneider, and Harriet Wald got me started and kept me going.

For special assistance, I heartily thank Marjorie Benton; Arnold J. Civins, C.P.A.; Ria Eagan, D.C.; Adrianne Benton Furniss; Gene Messinger; Ralph Novak; Kip Niven; Carol E. Rinzler, Esq.; Faith Sale; and Paula Wiseman.

Finally, I cannot thank my publisher, Dial Books, and my agent, Anne Borchardt, enough for their endless patience and unfailing support. At Dial, Phyllis Fogelman, editor in chief, gave this book commitment that is unparalleled in my experience of publishing. Toby Sherry, my editor, who believed in the project from the beginning, followed suit with enthusiasm and energy. At key moments, I’ve been especially grateful for her cheerful phone calls and her laugh. I admired and benefited from production editor Michele Foley’s keen eye and gentle manner. I greatly appreciate art director Atha Tehon’s efforts that have resulted in such an attractive book. I am very happy to have the backing of a committed sales manager like Maureen Gordon. This book would not exist without the energy and dedication of production director Shari Lichtner. Suzanne Patterson provided able and conscientious assistance.

And most of all I want to thank Ryan White, whose courage inspired this book.

—Ann Marie Cunningham.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A
NN
M
ARIE
C
UNNINGHAM
was associate producer for the 1988 special featuring Ryan White called “ ‘I Have AIDS’—A Teenager’s Story,” a
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Extra, part of the children’s science series produced by Children’s Television Workshop and broadcast nationally on PBS. The program won a 1989 George Foster Peabody Award for public service broadcasting and was nominated for a primetime Emmy Award and a Prix Jeunesse. Ms. Cunningham is also the co-author of two books:
Future Fire
and
The Technopeasant Survival Manual
on science and technology. She lives in New York City.