--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: On December 17, 1984, I had surgery to…" description: "\"On December 17, 1984, I had surgery to remove two inches of my left lung due to pneumonia. After two hours of surgery the doctors told my mother I had ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db6/ryan-white-20448_aids_on-december-17-1984-i-had-surgery-to-rem_2115345.jpg" --- # On December 17, 1984, I had surgery to remove two inches… ![“On December 17, 1984, I had surgery to remove two inches of my left lung due to pneumonia. After two hours of surgery the doctors told my mother I had AIDS.” quote by Ryan White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db6/ryan-white-20448_aids_on-december-17-1984-i-had-surgery-to-rem_2115345.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db6/ryan-white-20448_aids_on-december-17-1984-i-had-surgery-to-rem_2115345.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db6/ryan-white-20448_aids_on-december-17-1984-i-had-surgery-to-rem_2115345.jpg) > “On December 17, 1984, I had surgery to remove two inches of my left lung due to pneumonia. After two hours of surgery the doctors told my mother I had AIDS.” [Ryan White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-white/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A personal health crisis revealed a hidden, stigmatized disease, highlighting the impact of misinformation and fear on patients and families. **In simple terms:** A surgery led to an AIDS diagnosis, showing how hidden illnesses can surface unexpectedly. Key Takeaway Seek accurate medical information and support. Themes stigma health family disclosure Mood empathetic serious Type personal advocational When to use this quote - hospital diagnosis - family counseling - advocacy - education campaigns Key Concepts AIDS awareness patient rights public health Questions to Reflect On - How does stigma affect medical disclosure? - What can families do to support hidden with hidden illnesses? A Different Perspective Societal prejudice can hinder proper care and understanding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [December](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/december/) [Doctors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctors/) [Medicine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medicine/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Pneumonia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pneumonia/) [Surgery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surgery/) ## Related quotes > [Your left lung is smaller than your right lung to make room for your heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-left-lung-is-smaller-than-your-right-lung-to-make-room-for-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I claim that in losing the spinning wheel we lost our left lung.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-claim-that-in-losing-the-spinning-wheel-we-lost-our-left-lung/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Of course WE never had to do nude scenes. I'm glad, too, because I'm susceptible to pneumonia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-dunne/of-course-we-never-had-to-do-nude-scenes-i-m-glad-too-because-i-m/) [Irene Dunne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-dunne/) > [I had severe asthma and kidney problems and would get 105-degree fevers. I actually almost had to go on dialysis for my kidneys. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-alba/i-had-severe-asthma-and-kidney-problems-and-would-get-105-degree/) [Jessica Alba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-alba/) > [“husband got pneumonia and”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-see/husband-got-pneumonia-and/) [Lisa See](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-see/) > [I will say that there is an inordinate amount of medicine in my novels, especially the first one. There are a lot of medical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/i-will-say-that-there-is-an-inordinate-amount-of-medicine-in-my/) [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) > [I think if a physician wrote on a death certificate that old age was the cause of death, he'd be thrown out of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wald/i-think-if-a-physician-wrote-on-a-death-certificate-that-old-age-was/) [George Wald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wald/) > [No one has died from giving a bad presentation. Well, at least one person did, President William Henry Harrison, but he developed pneumonia after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-berkun/no-one-has-died-from-giving-a-bad-presentation-well-at-least-one/) [Scott Berkun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-berkun/) > [“I'm a Buddhist. You might have a Christian obligation to catch pneumonia while you sit for two and a half hours listening to some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-pulley/i-m-a-buddhist-you-might-have-a-christian-obligation-to-catch/) [Natasha Pulley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-pulley/) > [For the average person, taken to their sick bed, it takes a serious bout of pneumonia or a full body cast to completely forget…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/for-the-average-person-taken-to-their-sick-bed-it-takes-a-serious/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [All countries should immediately now activate their pandemic preparedness plans. Countries should remain on high alert for unusual outbreaks of influenza-like illness and severe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-chan/all-countries-should-immediately-now-activate-their-pandemic/) [Margaret Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-chan/) > [I got Type 1 diabetes at 30. It hit me in 1982 when I was a White House Fellow in Washington. I had viral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-got-type-1-diabetes-at-30-it-hit-me-in-1982-when-i-was-a-white/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I know part of the problem, of course. The disorientation, the distraction, the difficulty focusing-all classic Phase one signs of deliria. But I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/i-know-part-of-the-problem-of-course-the-disorientation-the/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [I put a lot of effort into writing 'A Briefer History' at a time when I was critically ill with pneumonia because I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/i-put-a-lot-of-effort-into-writing-a-briefer-history-at-a-time-when-i/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [The drink? Yes, I've had tough times in my life, especially the last year, regarding my ex-wife, my kids, I nearly broke my neck,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gascoigne/the-drink-yes-i-ve-had-tough-times-in-my-life-especially-the-last/) [Paul Gascoigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gascoigne/) ## More by Ryan White > [I'm just one of the kids, and all because the students at Hamilton Heights High School listened to the facts, educated their parents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-white/i-m-just-one-of-the-kids-and-all-because-the-students-at-hamilton/) [Ryan White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-white/) > [Given six months to live and being the fighter that I am, I set high goals for myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-white/given-six-months-to-live-and-being-the-fighter-that-i-am-i-set-high/) [Ryan White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-white/) > [I was labeled a troublemaker, my mom an unfit mother, and I was not welcome anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-white/i-was-labeled-a-troublemaker-my-mom-an-unfit-mother-and-i-was-not/) [Ryan White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-white/) > [The school I was going to said they had no guidelines for a person with AIDS.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-white/the-school-i-was-going-to-said-they-had-no-guidelines-for-a-person/) [Ryan White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-white/) > [This brought on the news media, TV crews, interviews, and numerous public appearances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-white/this-brought-on-the-news-media-tv-crews-interviews-and-numerous/) [Ryan White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-white/) > [Even at church, people would not shake my hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-white/even-at-church-people-would-not-shake-my-hand/) [Ryan White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-white/) > [We began a series of court battles for nine months, while I was attending classes by telephone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-white/we-began-a-series-of-court-battles-for-nine-months-while-i-was/) [Ryan White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-white/) > [I came face to face with death at thirteen years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-white/i-came-face-to-face-with-death-at-thirteen-years-old/) [Ryan White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-white/) > [AIDS can destroy a family if you let it, but luckily for my sister and me, Mom taught us to keep going. Don't give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-white/aids-can-destroy-a-family-if-you-let-it-but-luckily-for-my-sister-and/) [Ryan White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-white/) > [Financial hardships were rough on us, even though Mom had a good job at G.M.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-white/financial-hardships-were-rough-on-us-even-though-mom-had-a-good-job/) [Ryan White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-white/) > [The desire to move into a bigger house, to avoid living AIDS daily, and a dream to be accepted by a community and school,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-white/the-desire-to-move-into-a-bigger-house-to-avoid-living-aids-daily-and/) [Ryan White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-white/) > [Most recently my battle has been against AIDS and the discrimination surrounding it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-white/most-recently-my-battle-has-been-against-aids-and-the-discrimination/) [Ryan White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-white/) > [Eventually, I won the right to attend school, but the prejudice was still there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-white/eventually-i-won-the-right-to-attend-school-but-the-prejudice-was/) [Ryan White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-white/) > [I spent Christmas and the next thirty days in the hospital.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-white/i-spent-christmas-and-the-next-thirty-days-in-the-hospital/) [Ryan White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-white/) > [My family and I held no hatred for those people because we realized they were victims of their own ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-white/my-family-and-i-held-no-hatred-for-those-people-because-we-realized/) [Ryan White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-white/) [Explore all 31 Ryan White quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-white/) ## More Aids quotes > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [I'm part of a team that raises millions of dollars and raises awareness of HIV and AIDS all over the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-evangelista/i-m-part-of-a-team-that-raises-millions-of-dollars-and-raises/) [Linda Evangelista](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-evangelista/) > [If you take all the food aid, America is by far the most generous country. If you take the direct aid, we're very generous.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/if-you-take-all-the-food-aid-america-is-by-far-the-most-generous/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [My God, whose son, as on this night, took on Him the form of man, and for man vouchsafed to suffer and bleed, controls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/my-god-whose-son-as-on-this-night-took-on-him-the-form-of-man-and-for/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [I donated blood today. That's what I call getting an AIDS test.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-schumer/i-donated-blood-today-that-s-what-i-call-getting-an-aids-test/) [Amy Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-schumer/) > [Slavery, if it can be legalized at all, can be legalized only by positive legislation. Natural law gives it no aid. Custom imparts to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/slavery-if-it-can-be-legalized-at-all-can-be-legalized-only-by/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [Since I came to the White House, I got two hearing aids, a colon operation, skin cancer, a prostate operation, and I was shot.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/since-i-came-to-the-white-house-i-got-two-hearing-aids-a-colon/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The European talks of progress because by the aid of a few scientific discoveries he has established a society which has mistaken comfort for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/the-european-talks-of-progress-because-by-the-aid-of-a-few-scientific/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Women's Aid is a fantastic charity which has my full support. I am proud to call myself a Real Man, a man who will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-fox/women-s-aid-is-a-fantastic-charity-which-has-my-full-support-i-am/) Neil Fox > [It has been hard to muster the resources to support fledgling democracies and to intervene on behalf of the most desperate. The AIDS orphans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/it-has-been-hard-to-muster-the-resources-to-support-fledgling/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [At the time when this famous historical battle was fought in Kosovo, the people were looking at the stars, expecting aid from them. Now,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slobodan-milosevi/at-the-time-when-this-famous-historical-battle-was-fought-in-kosovo/) [Slobodan Milosević](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slobodan-milosevi/) > [Charles Darwin viewed the fossil record more as an embarrassment than as an aid to his theory ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/charles-darwin-viewed-the-fossil-record-more-as-an-embarrassment-than/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [I don't think I could compare myself to Macaulay Culkin, because we're pretty much two different kinds of actors. He's done a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-bonsall/i-don-t-think-i-could-compare-myself-to-macaulay-culkin-because-we-re/) [Brian Bonsall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-bonsall/) > [It is a great profession. There is the fascination of watching a figment of the imagination emerge through the aid of science to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/it-is-a-great-profession-there-is-the-fascination-of-watching-a/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) Browse all 1,983 Aids quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "On December 17, 1984, I had surgery to remove two inches of my left lung due to pneumonia. 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