FEATURE
Paige Rawl : Positive
The Riley Kids pages are
pages devoted to kids
within or associated with
Riley Children’s Hospital.
Many of these kids have
these pages are avenues
for these kids to share
their work. In the midst of
everything these kids are
we hope we are providing
an outlet for them and
inspirational stories to you
our readers.
Riley Hospital is a
remarkable hospital
that provides hope to
kids around the world.
organization that provides
outstanding medical care
on a loving and supportive
environment. They never
turn a child away regardless
of the family’s inability to
pay. Donations to Riley
assure they continue to
provide amazing care to
kids.
Paige Rawl is one of the 2014 Riley
Champions presented by Kroger. Her
inspirational story and resilience makes
her an excellent advocate for kids and
teens suffering with both HIV/AIDS and
bullying.
My story began when I was born HIV
positive. My mother contracted HIV
from my father and he passed away
in 2001 from an AIDS-related illness.
My mother found out she was HIV
positive when I was just two and a half
years old and then found out about me
right before
my third
birthday. She
disclosed to
me that I was
HIV positive
when I was
I didn’t fully
understand
what it meant;
I just felt that
it was like
having any
eighth grade and continued out the rest
of my eighth grade year being home
schooled because I was not receiving
the support that I should’ve been given.
a soccer game in front of other players
I am HIV positive and there is a
difference between HIV and AIDS. Not
my mom confronted the soccer coach a
couple days later she went on to make
a joke. She said that
we could use my
HIV status to our
advantage and the
players on the other
team would be
afraid to touch me
and I could score
goals.
After meeting
with school
administration and
having my principal
tell me she wishes I
which it is.
I knew that
if I took my
medicine every day that I would be
okay.
to my best friend at the time that I was
the bullying began and within a couple
weeks my entire middle school knew
about my HIV status. I was threatened
she can’t promise
to protect me was
when I knew I would be better not
being at that school. Once I began
being home schooled I realized that
the way I was being treated was
wrong and I needed to do something
about. I wanted to make sure no other
kids go through what I went through.
advocating against bullying!
and had a nickname PAIDS that I was
During my junior year of high school I
incidents the school counselor told me
that I could just deny I was HIV positive.
I wrote this book to get my story out
there and to help other see what effects
bullying has on a person. I wrote this
I decided to leave the middle school in
16 Inspired
/InspiredKidsIndy
/inspiredkidmag