Elizabeth Glaser
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Glaser, born Elizabeth Meyer, (November 11, 1947 – ), was a major American AIDS
activist and child advocate married to actor
and director
Paul Michael Glaser
. She contracted HIV
very early in the modern AIDS epidemic after receiving an HIV-contaminated blood transfusion
in 1981 while giving birth. Like other HIV-infected mothers, Glaser unknowingly passed the virus to her infant daughter, Ariel, through breastfeeding
. The Glasers' son, Jake, born in 1984, contracted HIV from his mother in utero
.
The virus went undetected in all three infected family members until they underwent HIV testing in 1985, after the Glasers' daughter, Ariel, began suffering from a series of unexplained illnesses. Ariel had developed advanced AIDS at a time when the medical community knew very little about the disease and there were no available treatment options. Early in 1987, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
finally approved AZT
as an effective drug to extend the lives of AIDS patients, but the approval only extended to adults. With their daughter's condition rapidly deteriorating, the Glasers fought to have her treated with AZT intravenously
. However, the treatment came too late, and the child eventually succumbed to the disease late in the summer of 1988.
Mourning the loss of her daughter and determined to save her surviving child, Jake, along with other HIV-positive children, Glaser co-founded the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
in 1988. Glaser's work raised public awareness about HIV infection in children and spurred funding for the development of pediatric AIDS drugs as well as research into mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV. (Significantly, Glaser's children received the virus through two of the most common means of mother-to-child transmission.)
Before her death in 1994, Glaser entered the national spotlight as a speaker at the 1992 Democratic National Convention
. She criticized the federal government's under-funding of AIDS research and its lack of initiative in tackling the AIDS crisis.
Her son, Jake, is now a healthy adult who often speaks publicly on behalf of AIDS patients.
. Gafney contracted the AIDS virus from his wife Mutsuko Kuniyoshi. Kuniyoshi, like Elizabeth Glaser, got infected via a tainted blood transfusion and had a child contract HIV from his mother in utero.
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
activist and child advocate married to actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
Paul Michael Glaser
Paul Michael Glaser
Paul Michael Glaser is an American actor and director, perhaps best known for his role as Detective David Starsky on the 1970s television series Starsky and Hutch; he also appeared as Captain Jack Steeper on the 1999 to 2005 NBC series Third Watch.-Early life:Glaser, the youngest of three...
. She contracted HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
very early in the modern AIDS epidemic after receiving an HIV-contaminated blood transfusion
Blood transfusion
Blood transfusion is the process of receiving blood products into one's circulation intravenously. Transfusions are used in a variety of medical conditions to replace lost components of the blood...
in 1981 while giving birth. Like other HIV-infected mothers, Glaser unknowingly passed the virus to her infant daughter, Ariel, through breastfeeding
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is the feeding of an infant or young child with breast milk directly from female human breasts rather than from a baby bottle or other container. Babies have a sucking reflex that enables them to suck and swallow milk. It is recommended that mothers breastfeed for six months or...
. The Glasers' son, Jake, born in 1984, contracted HIV from his mother in utero
In utero
In utero is a Latin term literally meaning "in the womb". In biology, the phrase describes the state of an embryo or fetus. In legal contexts, the phrase is used to refer to unborn children. Under common law, unborn children are still considered to exist for property transfer purposes.-See also:*...
.
The virus went undetected in all three infected family members until they underwent HIV testing in 1985, after the Glasers' daughter, Ariel, began suffering from a series of unexplained illnesses. Ariel had developed advanced AIDS at a time when the medical community knew very little about the disease and there were no available treatment options. Early in 1987, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Food and Drug Administration
The Food and Drug Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, one of the United States federal executive departments...
finally approved AZT
Zidovudine
Zidovudine or azidothymidine is a nucleoside analog reverse-transcriptase inhibitor , a type of antiretroviral drug used for the treatment of HIV/AIDS. It is an analog of thymidine....
as an effective drug to extend the lives of AIDS patients, but the approval only extended to adults. With their daughter's condition rapidly deteriorating, the Glasers fought to have her treated with AZT intravenously
Intravenous therapy
Intravenous therapy or IV therapy is the infusion of liquid substances directly into a vein. The word intravenous simply means "within a vein". Therapies administered intravenously are often called specialty pharmaceuticals...
. However, the treatment came too late, and the child eventually succumbed to the disease late in the summer of 1988.
Mourning the loss of her daughter and determined to save her surviving child, Jake, along with other HIV-positive children, Glaser co-founded the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing pediatric HIV infection and eliminating pediatric AIDS through research, advocacy, and prevention and treatment programs...
in 1988. Glaser's work raised public awareness about HIV infection in children and spurred funding for the development of pediatric AIDS drugs as well as research into mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV. (Significantly, Glaser's children received the virus through two of the most common means of mother-to-child transmission.)
Before her death in 1994, Glaser entered the national spotlight as a speaker at the 1992 Democratic National Convention
1992 Democratic National Convention
The 1992 National Convention of the U.S. Democratic Party nominated Governor Bill Clinton of Arkansas for President and Senator Al Gore of Tennessee for Vice President; Clinton announced Gore as his running-mate on July 9, 1992. The convention was held at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New...
. She criticized the federal government's under-funding of AIDS research and its lack of initiative in tackling the AIDS crisis.
Legacy
The foundation that bears Elizabeth Glaser's name is a major force in funding the study of pediatric HIV issues and tackling juvenile AIDS, both domestically and globally. Her book In the Absence of Angels (1991) is noted for its sensitive communication of the pain of the loss of a child and the intrusion of the media on a mother's grief.Her son, Jake, is now a healthy adult who often speaks publicly on behalf of AIDS patients.
See also
Martin GaffneyMartin Gaffney
Martin Francis Gaffney was an American man who successfully sued the United States Government for causing the death of his wife Mutsuko Gaffney, one son, and eventually himself by infecting them with HIV after Mutsuko got a blood transfusion at a Naval Hospital in 1981.-Background:Martin Gaffney...
. Gafney contracted the AIDS virus from his wife Mutsuko Kuniyoshi. Kuniyoshi, like Elizabeth Glaser, got infected via a tainted blood transfusion and had a child contract HIV from his mother in utero.