ABSTRACT
The human immune deficiency virus (HIV) pandemic, well into its second decade and having claimed several hundreds of thousands of American lives, challenges our society with a plethora of issues— from research questions to health care resource allocation to political activism to a psychosocial burden almost beyond comprehension. As medical science fosters improvements in survival, persons with HIV live to develop conditions which were practically unheard of during the epidemic's early years. The need has been great for several years for a manuscript which would help support caregivers as well as mourners as they deal with the loss which is attached to acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Sandra Jacoby Klein has been a pillar of wisdom, support, and strength in the affected community of Los Angeles since the beginning of the epidemic. Ms. Jacoby Klein's work has been presented internationally, and her reputation is solid as the pre-eminent expert in AIDS multiple loss.
