HIV-positive boy gives inspirational message

Thursday, March 25, 1999 | 11:20 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- An 11-year-old Las Vegas boy who has lived with AIDS most of his life gave an inspirational message Wednesday to the Nevada Assembly, which in turn gave him a standing ovation.

Michael Dowling told members of the Assembly he was born HIV positive and his mother told him "I'd probably die by the time I was 3 years old."

Every two months he goes to the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md. "The doctors and nurses there are the people that have kept me alive," he told legislators. "If not for them, I would be dead."

He get shots of IL2 twice a day for a week, treatment that he said "has done a lot for me."

That's a taxing present, but Dowling does not plan to let it affect his future. "I plan to grow up and be a doctor," he told the Assembly.

"I do not plan to be disabled and live off welfare and have Medicaid pay my doctor's bills," he said. "People living with AIDS need good jobs and insurance to pay their medical bills. The state of Nevada needs to help us reach our goals."

He was introduced by Assemblywoman Barbara Cegavske, R-Las Vegas, a friend of the family's. She said the youngster wrote his own speech.

It came as the Nevada Legislature declared March 24 as HIV/AIDS Awareness Day in Nevada. Nevada ranks 17th in the nation in reported AIDS cases, a resolution passed by the Assembly and Senate noted.

At the end of 1997, Nevada had the highest incidences of AIDS in the West for both men and women, even higher than the rate in California, Assembly Concurrent Resolution 39.

AIDS deaths in Nevada, however, have declined "primarily because of heroic efforts of scientists, health care professionals and persons living with HIV/AIDS," the resolution noted.

Two years ago, Assembly members David Goldwater, D-Las Vegas, and Jan Evans, D-Sparks, led a successful effort to include more money in the state budget to buy advanced drugs for AIDS patients.

Gov. Kenny Guinn's budget includes money to continue the program.