Lifetime Drama Army Wives Tackles Issue of HIV and Children
Posted by
Jane Coaston
Washington, DC
April 6, 2012
Wendy Davis, star of Lifetime TV's Army Wives.
Last week’s episode of the Lifetime drama
Army Wives tackled the important topic of children and families in the U.S. affected by HIV and AIDS.
Lieutenant Colonel Joan Burton (played by actress Wendy Davis) comes face-to-face with the issue of pediatric AIDS when her HIV-positive son, David, and a friend are injured during a basketball game at school.
The incident leads the family to disclose David’s HIV-status. The community on base is divided, with many parents concerned that their own children are in danger by interacting with David.
It becomes a moment for education on the army base – and for the Army Wives audience – as doctors explain that the risk of transmission in this case is almost non-existent.
In advance of the episode, the Foundation teamed up with Lifetime and shared
resources on pediatric AIDS for viewers. You can also check out some of our blogs, Tweets, and information from the episode below:
- Army Wives, Episode 6 – “Viral” – Watch the full episode of Army Wives dealing with the issue of HIV, children, and families.
- “Why I Joined A Mother’s Fight To End Pediatric AIDS” – Wendy Davis, star of Army Wives, learned more about pediatric AIDS after playing the adoptive mother of an HIV-positive son. In this article from the Huffington Post, she explains how playing Joan Burton taught her that HIV is still a relevant issue for children and families in the U.S. and around the world, and how she decided to add her voice to “A Mother’s Fight.” Davis also live tweeted about pediatric AIDS during the episode.
- “A Mother’s Fear” – For Foundation Ambassador Suzan Stirling-Meredith, Joan Burton’s situation was more fact than fiction, as she and her HIV-positive son, Yonas, experienced a similar situation at his school. Learn more about her and her work as a Foundation Ambassador.
- “What Children Can Teach Us about HIV” – Foundation President and CEO Chip Lyons writes about a recent example of discrimination against an HIV-positive student at a private school in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
Jane Coaston is a Media Relations Coordinator in the Foundation’s Washington, D.C. office.