It is a shame that my camera has decided to give me only blurry pictures. When I get my new camera I will replace this blurry little thing! But for now, I just want to get this finished and be done with it, and move on to other things.
This panel will start in the upper right hand corner with
Mike Darrell
7/22/57-6/26/2006
Mike was a very good friend to both myself and my husband. He came here from Houston, Texas with a friend. He was a handyman of sorts and a mechanic extraordinare. He loved his motorcycle and rode it wherever he went if there was not a hurricane gale blowing. He could fix the car or the diesel truck. What ever needed done. He was also an artist and a musician. I do not know how many flutes ( and I call them that for want of a better word ) he had. I think they were Irish pipes and that boy loved Irish music. His head was full of music! He and his friend started going to my church, but soon found it was not the proper match and went across town to the Christ Chapel. He was very active over there and fit like a glove.
I miss Mike very much.
James Smith
1957-3/29/2005
James was a good friend to my friend, Robert. Robert helped make this panel and he knew James loved Christmas.
The one on the right belongs to
Gilbert Finn
4/18/59-1/6/07
This was Robert's very best friend. They were together constantly and Robert is pretty much lost without Gilbert. He also loved Christmas. Robert put a lot of thought and love into both of these panels.
Now last, but definitely not least, we come to my friend
Mark Belarde
3/28/67-12/29/06
This picture shows Mark and me on Santa Claus's lap at the AIDS Christmas party in 2002. I am not sure that this was the real Santa. I first met Mark in 1992 (I think). He was riding a bike, walking and very active. He was the proud possessor of 75 T Cells. Shortly there after his mother passed from a massive heart attack. I told Mark that I would do what I could to take her place in his life. I made that my mission.
I registered as his Personal Care Provider through Argus Home Health. Thus began my career in the AIDS Health care Services, but that is a whole 'nuther story!
I started out working with him 6 hours a week, just doing laundry and household chores that he needed help with. Mark had a very strong constitution, but unfortunately the meds never worked for him. As years passed slowly by his immune system weakened and his T cells fell. the last 3 years of his life they hovered around the 2 mark. At one time they were zilch. I graduated to more hours and was finally doing 48 hours a week and a family member spent nights with him.
I will not bore you with details of our 15 year's together, suffice it to say, I became very attached to Mark and his family. I became the mother he had lost and he became the son who needed me. Through trips to the emergency room and picnics in the mountains, long walks and dirty laundry, physical therapy and shopping trips, eating out and eating in, we formed a bond that can never be broken.
I finally came to the realization that I could no longer take care of Mark. I knew I could not do it and he could not do it. It was time to let go. The hardest part of life always seems to be the letting go part. We can do until we are at the point where no more can be done and we realize it must be done.
So it is fitting that
Mark Belarde
be my final entry in this journey to completion of the Pueblo AIDS Memorial Quilt.
With a heavy heart I bid a fond farewell to all my friends who have gone before and will keep the flicker of hope alive that some where, some how I can live long enough to see a cure and a vaccine for this dreadful disease. Until that day, I will continue to work with AIDS clients. I will add panels to my quilt and display it when called upon to do so. I will pray ceaselessly and support the cause in whatever way I can. Will you join me?
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