Editorial July 22, 2002 Issue

"We faced the sunrise together"

Editor

We close this Sentinel with one AIDS patient's story of healing. It's a different kind of healing from most of the others in the issue, but nevertheless a valid one. One that has enriched and sanctified not only his life, but the lives of his friends, his family, and the Christian Science practitioner whose special privilege it was to pray with him.

It's the story of a young artist (call him "Billy"). He did exquisite acrylics, oils, sketches, and portraits. He played the banjo, loved to read, danced brilliantly, hiked in the wilderness. He got into drinking and drugs, though. Then his roommate was diagnosed with AIDS—and Billy, assisted by the woman he later married, nursed him to the end.

Eventually, Billy found out that he, too, had AIDS. That launched him on some new trails ... in and out of hospitals and clinics—and into Native American healing practices, diets, support groups.

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