Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
PRNewswire - November 29, 2004
NEW YORK, Nov. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 14,000 kids in the United States are infected with the HIV virus, and more than 90 percent of the kids infected were born with the disease. For a kid growing up with HIV, the normal hassles of adolescence pale in comparison to the never-ending battle to stay alive. In Nick News Special Edition: "Living With AIDS: A Story of Three Kids", award-winning journalist Linda Ellerbee follows three kids living with AIDS -- Holly, Jordyn, and Ricky -- and listens as they tell the stories of their lives. The special airs on World AIDS Day, December 1, 2004, only on Nickelodeon.
"This is not a show about AIDS," said Ellerbee. "This is a show about three American kids who are living with AIDS. They all have the strength of character and resilience that's hard to find, even in adults. These kids are not one but three good reasons to educate yourself about AIDS."
In the special, the kids describe what their life is like living with AIDS, a disease they were all born with. At 15, no one understands this kind of life more than Holly. Not only is she infected, but her mother is as well. In the face of frequent hospitalizations and fear of the unknown, Holly doesn't blame anyone for her situation and tries her best to stay upbeat. She makes friends online and looks forward to her first date, but most of her time is spent worrying for her mother, trying not to get sick, and hoping to be treated just like other kids.
While there is no cure for the disease, there are new medicines to help prolong the lives of those people who have it. The kids in the special describe taking between 6 and 15 pills a day. The problem is, these medicines are expensive and some families can't afford the cost. Such is the case for Jordyn, 14, whose mother died of AIDS. While she and her father are concerned for her health, they must also worry about the expense of medication and hospital stays. Despite the obstacles, Jordyn does not let her situation deter her positive attitude. As she says, "I don't put my HIV in front of me; I put it behind me."
Kids living with AIDS exhibit a great deal of courage. They not only live lives that are close to normal, they allow themselves to dream of a future. One kid that believes in his dreams is Ricky, 15. Adopted as a small child, he knows how lucky he is to have made it this far. He also knows his limitations when it comes to physical activity, but that doesn't deter him from living a full life. He educates others about AIDS, spends time with his friends and family, practices his rapping skills, and dreams of the day there is a cure.
Nick News, which at 13 years is the longest-running kids' news show in television history, has built its reputation on its respectful and direct way of speaking to kids about the important issues of the day. The program has covered topics such as the plight of the kids of Afghanistan, the Sept. 11 attacks, the 2000 presidential election, the Columbine tragedy, the Balkan war, the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal and AIDS. Ellerbee's special on the sensitive issue of AIDS, "A Conversation with Magic," which featured Magic Johnson, was awarded the 1992 CableACE for best news special. Nick News also is the recipient of numerous Peabody Awards, including one given to Ellerbee for her coverage of the President Clinton investigation; a Columbia duPont Award; Emmy Awards; and Parents' Choice Awards.
Nickelodeon, which is celebrating its landmark 25th anniversary this year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in 88 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for more than eight consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.
SOURCE Nickelodeon
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