News
ENLARGE
Vail, CO Colorado
EAGLE COUNTY — Jordyn knows how to live with the HIV virus, and she’s sharing her knowledge with others.
Jordyn, 16, whose last name is being withheld at the family's request, was born with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Not long after moving to the valley a few years ago, she discovered the Red Ribbon Project, a local nonprofit group dedicated to educating people about HIV and AIDS.
Over the years, Jordyn and Paula Palmateer, who helped create the Red Ribbon Project, have forged a bond. The charity has helped Jordyn and her family — sometimes with support, and with cash when possible. In turn, Jordyn has helped the Red Ribbon Project expand its education programs, has helped create video presentations, and now sits on the charity’s board of directors.
“We try to be as involved with them as they are with us,” Jordyn’s dad David said.
Palmateer’s interest in HIV and AIDS started when she volunteered to work in the Harlem area of New York City with homeless people who had the disease.
“It became a passion,” Palmateer said. “In 1996 I decided the community needed a support group.”
EAGLE COUNTY — Jordyn knows how to live with the HIV virus, and she’s sharing her knowledge with others.
Jordyn, 16, whose last name is being withheld at the family's request, was born with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Not long after moving to the valley a few years ago, she discovered the Red Ribbon Project, a local nonprofit group dedicated to educating people about HIV and AIDS.
Over the years, Jordyn and Paula Palmateer, who helped create the Red Ribbon Project, have forged a bond. The charity has helped Jordyn and her family — sometimes with support, and with cash when possible. In turn, Jordyn has helped the Red Ribbon Project expand its education programs, has helped create video presentations, and now sits on the charity’s board of directors.
“We try to be as involved with them as they are with us,” Jordyn’s dad David said.
Palmateer’s interest in HIV and AIDS started when she volunteered to work in the Harlem area of New York City with homeless people who had the disease.
“It became a passion,” Palmateer said. “In 1996 I decided the community needed a support group.”
Finding like-minded people was relatively easy, and the Red Ribbon Project was born. The group’s main jobs are awareness, education, prevention and support. Much of that effort is education. Palmateer estimated the group makes presentations to as many as 1,000 local school kids every year, in both middle school and high school.
The group gets a chance to talk to every graduating senior every year.
“Everyone who’s graduating now has also heard this in middle school,” Palmateer said.
The Red Ribbon Project used to talk to just high schoolers. When Jordyn got involved, the education programs started in middle schools.
“I thought they’d just do it the years I was in middle school.” she said. “But they’ve kept doing it.”
Eagle County doesn’t have many cases of HIV or AIDS. In fact, only one person who has taken a free test has turned up positive since 2000. Talking to kids is one way to keep those numbers low. And, since many high school graduates leave the valley, Palmateer said it’s important for seniors to get some reminders about staying safe before they venture out into the world.
Jordyn's dad wants people to know about living with HIV.
The group gets a chance to talk to every graduating senior every year.
“Everyone who’s graduating now has also heard this in middle school,” Palmateer said.
The Red Ribbon Project used to talk to just high schoolers. When Jordyn got involved, the education programs started in middle schools.
“I thought they’d just do it the years I was in middle school.” she said. “But they’ve kept doing it.”
Eagle County doesn’t have many cases of HIV or AIDS. In fact, only one person who has taken a free test has turned up positive since 2000. Talking to kids is one way to keep those numbers low. And, since many high school graduates leave the valley, Palmateer said it’s important for seniors to get some reminders about staying safe before they venture out into the world.
Jordyn's dad wants people to know about living with HIV.
Testing, testing
The Eagle County Red Ribbon Project is providing free HIV testing on Wednesday from 1 — 6 p.m. at the Eagle Care Clinic in Edwards.
No appointments are needed, and pre- and post-test counseling is provided. For more information, call 827-5900. |
“Kids today seem to think ‘you can manage it,’” he said. “You can, but it’s an immense chore to do that. Jordyn takes 600 pills a month. There’s a lot involved with diet and doing the other things you have to do to stay healthy.”
And, he said, those pills and treatments get expensive. The bill for just one month of Jordyn’s treatments a few years ago was hundreds of thousands of dollars.
“You’d better have insurance,” he said.
Living with HIV and its ups and downs can also mean a lot of time lost at school. Jordyn said she’s able to keep up, and maintain passing grades, with a lot of phone calls, e-mails and, these days, a computer “flash drive” — a little gadget about the size of a piece of gum that allows her to bring home work from her computer classes.
“It’s a struggle,” she said. “But I take my medicine and get through it.”
Through Jordyn’s ups and downs, the Red Ribbon Project has been available to help.
“Paula’s an angel,” David said. “They’ve all been so great to us.”
That’s why Jordyn’s on the Red Ribbon Project Board. The past few years, Jordyn and the Red Ribbon Project have been involved in Alpine Children’s Charities, a group that brings sick kids from Chicago and other areas to the mountains for a few days of fun.
“It’s a great opportunity for those kids to come and ski, and it’s growing every year,” Jordyn said.
David said he wishes he could do more with the Red Ribbon Project, but he and his family do what they can.
“It’s nice to know they’re out there educating kids,” he said. “It’s important.”
Staff Writer Scott N. Miller can be reached at 748-2930, or smiller@vaildaily.com.
And, he said, those pills and treatments get expensive. The bill for just one month of Jordyn’s treatments a few years ago was hundreds of thousands of dollars.
“You’d better have insurance,” he said.
Living with HIV and its ups and downs can also mean a lot of time lost at school. Jordyn said she’s able to keep up, and maintain passing grades, with a lot of phone calls, e-mails and, these days, a computer “flash drive” — a little gadget about the size of a piece of gum that allows her to bring home work from her computer classes.
“It’s a struggle,” she said. “But I take my medicine and get through it.”
Through Jordyn’s ups and downs, the Red Ribbon Project has been available to help.
“Paula’s an angel,” David said. “They’ve all been so great to us.”
That’s why Jordyn’s on the Red Ribbon Project Board. The past few years, Jordyn and the Red Ribbon Project have been involved in Alpine Children’s Charities, a group that brings sick kids from Chicago and other areas to the mountains for a few days of fun.
“It’s a great opportunity for those kids to come and ski, and it’s growing every year,” Jordyn said.
David said he wishes he could do more with the Red Ribbon Project, but he and his family do what they can.
“It’s nice to know they’re out there educating kids,” he said. “It’s important.”
Staff Writer Scott N. Miller can be reached at 748-2930, or smiller@vaildaily.com.
What’s HIV?
Human Immunodefciency Virus is the precursor to AIDS. Both make it harder for a person’s body to fight off diseases.
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