OCEANO, Calif., Nov. 25, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Manny was young, talented, and brilliant. He had what it took to fulfill his dreams. His future was full of opportunities and possibilities. However, AIDS suddenly caught up with him and his life took a U-turn. Written by his sister, Janine M. Johnson, "Never Forgotten: A Sister's Story of the Love for Her Dying Brother" (now available through 1stBooks Library) chronicles Manny's struggle with AIDS. It is about his painful last weeks, Johnson's coming to terms with her brother's death and how their family's love accompanied Manny to the end of his days.
In "Never Forgotten," readers get to know Manny as Johnson sees him -- his days as a child and as an adult. The beautiful potential he offered in life, snatched away by AIDS, is a poignant reminder of the tragedy lived by millions of others who have been claimed by this disease. The terrible pain Manny suffered from the disease, the trauma, the panic, his and his family's fears and their inspiring strength are all described in the book.
Johnson recalls how Manny, suffering from the ravages of AIDS, went into a fit of confusion and panic as he feared that the tubes on his chest would suck the blood out of his body. "My heart was pounding so hard. I didn't know what he was doing," Johnson narrates. "There was nothing wrong with his line. Why was he messing around with it? He was just confused and he didn't realize it." Had Manny unscrewed his tube, his blood would have back flowed, then rushed out, draining him to death. Readers get to see how in some moments, no matter how much Johnson tried, she could not ease the pain Manny was feeling.
Johnson hopes "Never Forgotten" will help AIDS patients and their families grasp the truth about life and death, as well as how to deal with AIDS. She wrote it as a way to grieve over Manny's passing and to help heal herself and her family recover from this tragedy. "Never Forgotten" also aims to keep Manny alive in the memories of those who cherish his life and to inform readers about AIDS. Johnson currently lives in Oceano, Calif.
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