Arizonia Dolls
|
Title: Cappuccino A Life I am a minority woman who was infected with AIDS by my husband, also my abuser, at 21 years of age. I chose to become a single parent, with two baby girls, who were not infected. I remember being very sick mentally, physically, and emotionally behind the abuse. Today I am a new woman with goals and dreams. I no longer accept abuse in my life. I know I am worthy of love, respect, and support. I now choose to have people around me that will bring these qualities into my life. I now live in Phoenix, Arizona and have remarried. My spouse, who is not infected, is a man who is kind, loving, and understanding. I have never known these attributes bit I know I am worthy of them. I also chose a career to help women, like myself, so they can make better choices in their lives. It's important to let them know that they still have a life... even after HIV. When life isn't working the way you'd like, look at the situation as an opportunity on the road to your success. Follow any negative by taking a look at your B.A.G. B is for Blessings. Remind yourself of the things you are grateful for like life itself, your health, family, friends, career. A is for accomplishments. Focus on the many things you have done and many things you do daily that you are proud of. G is for Goals. Review your dreams and plans for the future often. This is the fuel that will motivate you. See yourself as already having what you seek. Always view any negative as part of one performance, not as a turndown of the performer. This artist is African-American and Puerto Rican and lives in Phoenix, Arizona. |
 Name: Peggy A. Birth date: April 18, ???? HIV Diagnosis: Unknown Title: Daneka Hi, my name is Daneka, I'm from Phoenix, Arizona. When I found out about my HIV, I was sad. So I have a way to get away from my sadness. I belong to a Renassiance group here in Phoenix. Where I can be a Lady-in-Waiting to the Queen. As of today, (December 7, 2006) my HIV is undetected. Yeah! May your day be always happy and bright, and may God bless you and keep you safe always! This artist lives in Phoenix, Arizona. |
 Name: B. Sullivan Birth date: July 9, 1943 HIV Diagnosis: Unknown Title: Dusty's Mom Dusty Roy Gaytsoll - 11/13/68 - 6/25/02 Question: If I had it to do over again, what would I do differently? First of all, I was not infected with HIV/AIDS. I was affected. My son had AIDS. At first I was mortified, flabbergasted and all the strong verbs you could think of. Then I cried, prayed, asked God for guidance and understanding, and "He" gave it to me. "He" gave me a route that changed me forever. I lost a 12 year relationship with a man that told me my son could not come home and I could not take care of him, or he was gone. So be it. I moved to the next phase, my son. So we settled down for 10 years of groups, doctor visits, medicine changes, lots of tears, a few words of frustration, several I'm sorries, and lots of hugs and kisses. Even evictions from an apartment. Over the years our home housed 5 different AIDS patients; Liz, my son's girlfriend, Tanya a girl from a wealthy Philipino family where sge didn't fit with her life style, an illegal from Mexico who needed to stay with us until his counselor could get him into a facility, and 2 other gentlemen who needed to stay until they were placed. I learned love, loving, giving, sympathy, empathy, compassion, humbleness, humility, and much more. I'm not saying it was easy because it wasn't always. Not was it always lots of joy. But we all got through. My son died June 25, 2002 at St. Mary's Hospital in Tucson, Arizona. We went for his 2nd chemo treatment. He had lymphoma. It spread through his body 27 days after he was diagnosed. So, what would I do different if I had it to do over again? Nothing! I would go through it pretty much the same way. Oh maybe, a few little changes like knowing what to expect. But all in all I'd do it again. I'm 63, a retired Social Worker just doing what I want to. This artist is a caucasian woman who lives in Casa Grande, Arizona. |
 Name: S. T. Birth date: September 5, 1963 HIV Diagnosis: Unknown Title: Going to Live Life to the Fullest Like they say, do not judge a book by its cover, or a person by their color either. If you are thinking I wasn't the one that was supposed to get this illness...all this doll is going to express is be good to yourself, take care of yourself, and get educated about the illness, and don't be afraid of a person that is being effected by HIV. Keep living, keep having safe fun and live life to the fullest! This artist is a Native-American woman who lives in Phoenix, Arizona. |
Title: Hippy - Old School I'm Kennedy. I am an artist and hippy. I grew up in the seventies and I really never have conformed to this day and age. Some can say I'm Old School too. I love to sing at home and in the shower and especially in my car! My daughter who is twelve, thinks I can not dance but says I'm still a cool parent. She is my heart. Without her or my older son I don't know how I could have survived my diagnosis of AIDS, which was November of 2004. I now am healthy and undetectable. Life just keeps getting better and better by choices I make and the positive changes I am making in my life. Two weeks ago I became a grandma. Two years ago I never thought I'd live to see this day. It was such a joyous and perfect day. I need to know that I am making a positive change in someone else's life also, I do this when I am out doing what I love doing best. And that is educating my peers about the importance of taking an active part in our own Recovery. This is the rest of our life we are talking about...I can still be creative. Kennedy is of Hispanic origin and lives in Scottsdale, Arizona. |
Title: Kelly I was raised in the Midwest. HIV/AIDS is a disease of my children's generation. I was careless, now I'm scared! I have HIV! I'm still a mom, a woman, a friend, a co-worker. I still have HIV, I'm not scared now, I'm aware!
I'm living with, not dying from HIV. Knowledge is power! Now I know... This artist is a white woman who lives in Phoenix, Arizona. |
 Name: Patsy Steen Birth date: August 31, 1950 HIV Diagnosis: Unknown Title: Nana This is written for all the women of the world that have found themselves in situations, conditions, or even misconceptions of who we really are. Lots of care is being taken to use the dolls in various settings to help each of us understand, rationalize, and adjust to old wounds in our lives, that keep us from being the woman that we were meant to be. I'm dying, I'm dying, I'm dying Patsy is a Black woman who lives in Phoenix, Arizona. |
 Name: Susan K. Brasel Birth date: April 7, 1962 HIV Diagnosis: November, 2004 Title: Pink Lady In the beginning This artist is a Caucasian woman who lives in Glendale, Arizona. |
 Name: Delores Quesada Birth date: June 17, 1963 HIV Diagnosis: Unknown Title: Silent With Hope Silent was not allowed to be part of society, not speak or be spoken to. As she grew, unaware of events in society, she hadn't a care of them. She looked and listened without seeing or hearing, didn't feel or think. She was just there, a part of a world but never belonging. She feared being seen or spoken to. It was too painful, cause it was against all she had learned. Silent believes she finds Hope in becoming a part of society through alcohol and marijuana, later intervenous drug use. She loses her teach (father), becomes alone but her society takes her to a new world behind bars, she accepted it because the drugs still lived within these walls. She shared needle, still unaware of an outcome unknowing of HIV. One day the doctor tells Silent she is HIV positive. Silent asked the doctor, "So I'll have to take medicine a week or so?" Doctor informs Silent of HIV. Silent is scare and loses Hope. Silent stops drugs, but continues alcohol, more and more to forget living a life of death. Organizations - Native American - seek her out, looking for Silent on the streets, on the railroad tracks, at her jobs. Silent wonders why they want me. Silent is already dead without Hope. She seeks them out because the wondering of why pulls her to that direction. She learns she is not alone and that there is Hope. Silent finds a new world, new Hope, and a new Life. She learns to look, listen, and hear. She instills in her life not to be seen or heard, this is why Silent hasn't a mouth. Regrets, many, but Hope lifts Silent through it all. So Silent is no longer alone. She has two families, two worlds. Full of support and love that instill love, faith, and hope in overcoming all. Silent knows one day a cure will be found. But Death alone has no hold on her, through Christ her Lord, who truly lifts her to her real Father. Delores is a Native-American woman who lives in Scottsdale, Arizona. |
 Name: I.V. Birth date: July 25, 1963 HIV Diagnosis: Unknown Title: Untitled This artist had the following message: Life Is Good! This artist is a Hispanic woman who lives in Queen Creek, Arizona. She made her doll in the sitting position because she is confined in a wheelchair. |
Title: Faith Living with HIV has increased my faith in Jesus and knowing, without him I could not have made it this far. Also keeping hope and great expectations, knowing that the best is yet to come and being able to reach my goals and accomplish new things. Just being all I was created to be because HIV is only 1% of my life and God is 99%. Also using wisdom to take my medication and be consistant with my doctor appointments. I will always have a life of a good legacy. P.S. Stay encouraged. This artist is an African-American woman living in Phoenix, Arizona. |
Name: Lorraine
Name: J. Kennedy Ramos 
Name: Kelly M. 
Name: R.J.
