English Original
I have worked with numerous children infected with the virus that causes AIDS. The relationships I have had with these special kids have been gifts in my life. They have taught me so many things, but I have especially learned that great courage can be found in the smallest of packages. Let me tell you about Tyler.
Tyler was born infected with HIV; his mother was also infected. From the very beginning of his life, he was dependent on medications to survive. When he was five, a tube was surgically inserted into a vein in his chest. This tube was connected to a pump, which he carried in a small backpack. Medications were hooked up to this pump and continuously supplied through the tube to his bloodstream. At times, he also needed supplemental oxygen to support his breathing.
Tyler wasn't willing to give up one single moment of his childhood to this deadly disease. It was not unusual to find him playing and racing around his backyard, wearing his medicine-laden backpack and dragging his tank of oxygen behind him in his little wagon. All of us who knew Tyler marveled at his pure joy in being alive and the energy it gave him. Tyler's mom often teased him by telling him that he moved so fast she needed to dress him in red. That way, when she peered through the window to check on him playing in the yard, she could quickly spot him.
This dreaded disease eventually wore down even a little dynamo like Tyler. He grew quite ill, and unfortunately, so did his HIV-infected mother. When it became apparent that he wasn't going to survive, Tyler's mom talked to him about death. She comforted him by telling him that she was dying too, and that she would be with him soon in heaven.
A few days before his death, Tyler beckoned me over to his hospital bed and whispered, "I might die soon. I'm not scared. When I die, please dress me in red. Mom promised she's coming to heaven, too. I'll be playing when she gets there, and I want to make sure she can find me."
中文翻译
我曾与许多感染了导致艾滋病的病毒的孩子们一起工作。与这些特殊孩子们的关系是我生命中的礼物。他们教会了我许多事情，但我尤其明白，巨大的勇气可以存在于最微小的身躯中。让我来告诉你泰勒的故事。
泰勒一出生就感染了艾滋病毒，他的母亲也被感染了。从他生命之初，他就依赖药物才能存活。五岁时，一根导管通过手术植入他胸部的血管。这根导管连接着一个泵，他把它装在一个小背包里背在身上。药物连接到这个泵上，通过导管持续输送到他的血液中。有时，他还需要补充氧气来维持呼吸。
泰勒不愿将这致命的疾病夺走他童年的任何一刻。常常能看到他在后院玩耍奔跑，背着装满药物的背包，用他的小拖车拉着氧气罐跟在身后。所有认识泰勒的人都惊叹于他对生命纯粹的喜悦以及由此产生的活力。泰勒的妈妈常开玩笑说，他跑得太快了，她得给他穿上红衣服才行。这样，当她透过窗户查看在院子里玩耍的他时，就能一眼找到他。
然而，这可怕的疾病最终还是耗尽了即使像泰勒这样的小小活力源。他的病情日益严重，不幸的是，他感染艾滋病毒的母亲也是如此。当泰勒显然无法幸存时，他的妈妈和他谈起了死亡。她安慰他说，她也快要死了，很快就能在天堂与他相聚。
去世前几天，泰勒把我叫到他的病床边，低声说道：“我可能很快就要死了。我不害怕。我死的时候，请给我穿上红衣服。妈妈答应过她也会来天堂的。等她到的时候，我会在那里玩耍，我想确保她能找到我。”