www.HIVVICTIMS.com/obituaries/janetgordon.html

JANET GORDON LOSES HER BATTLE WITH AIDS  11-11-2002 
The Baltimore Sun, Wabasha Daily News
staff writer Ray Jacobs

    Janet Gordon was a wife, a mother of two, and a godsend to those around her.  As she struggled with the symptoms of HIV for the past six years, noone would know any better if not for the countless television reports, five years after the fact.  She in fact had the virus for five years, before finding out that a blood transfusion she had undergone years ago, had been supplied with infected samples. 
   Mrs. Gordon was a resident of Wabasha County for fifteen years before discovering she had been the victim of a boshed blood transfusion, infecting her with the HIV virus.   Her only regret she admitted as she laid on her death bed, was that she never told her ex-boyfriend Mike that she had the virus.  She didn't know at the time of their intercourse, but once she found out, could not get a hold of him as he had since moved out of state.  (she asked that I print that statement in bold in case he happens upon this, he wouldn't miss it) She hopes he will now see this report and take the necessary precautions to avoid spreading the disease any further than he already may have.  She felt awful because while she hated using a condom, she knew Mike hated it more.  He just liked to pretend he wanted to use it. 
    As she lay on her deathbed, Janet confessed to me, that the day her ex-husband and daughter walked in on them having sex, she was overcome by a feeling that something was wrong.  It was only two weeks later that the pale skin and cold sores would start ravaging her body, before she was given anti-bodies to fight off the infections.  She wanted to call Mike then, but was too embarrassed.  By the time she came to terms and accepted her fate,  it was too late.  Mike had moved away, in fear of his life.  Janet's husband was recently released from prison and swore to kill Mike if he "ever got his little 4 inches near his wife again!"  Mike took off never to be heard from again.
    Janet is survived by her former ex-husband (they remarried once he got out of jail), Jermaine Coltraine, 37, and daughter Michelle Muran, now 11.   They vow to preach to the world the dangers of unsafe sex.  Jermaine talks openly about his being raped repeatedly while in the slammer, and the effects it had on his self-confidence.  Then he adds, "But I pity the fool, the fool named Mike Lantz, who screwed my wife in fronta my little girl.  I'm gonna find you one day.  And when I do, you gonna wish you never took that rubber off son!"  As he says this, his little girl walks back in and you'd never know he just threatened anyone. "Hey baby girl."  he says playfully as she cozies up to her father. 
    The only lesson we can take from this additional life taken by the AIDS epidemic, is to wrap up.  Practice safe sex, or don't have sex at all.   Sex is a symbol of the holy institution of marriage and should be practicing by loving couples within the confines of matrimony.  Janet Gordon has passed away, but her legacy will live on.  Don't let it be for nothing.

EDITOR'S NOTE:
   Mike Lantz, if you're out there.  Run dude.  I mean run fast.  This guy Jermaine ain't playing.  He scares me.  And he wants you.  So change your name or do what you gotta do.  And oh yeah, go get an HIV test bro!