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What happens when a doctor's oath to save lives runs counter to government's attempt to prevent panic and business' goal to make money? This book is a factual account of the early days of the AIDS virus—how it was diagnosed, understood, identified, and tested for.
Dr. Tomar specialized in the relatively minor field of immune deficiency diseases. He was working in Syracuse, New York, when first consulted by two doctors. Each had a previously healthy, male patient in his prime who developed rapid health loss possibly related to immune deficiency and opportunistic infections. Blood work confirmed abnormal T-cell counts but provided no known answer. A major clue came on June 5, 1981, when Tomar read a front page journal article about five homosexual men in Los Angeles with similar symptoms. He immediately contacted the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); they were aware of the issue.
Immune diseases had been uncommon in America; doctors seldom saw these in their practices so had little interest. From this point onward, Dr. Tomar's lectures on immunopathology were attended by hundreds of physicians. However, instead of cooperation within the medical field, Tomar found competitors. People and labs were racing for the prize of first discovery. Blood samples were not shared with Tomar's lab, phone callers anonymously collected information, and his journal articles and patents were rejected or held up. All the while, patients were dying from lack of information, tainted blood, and withheld funding.
Winner of an Eric Hoffer award, the book is based on the author's personal journal which covers events of 1982 to 1990 from the vantage point of an AIDS Task Force member. His story explains what we were not told during the AIDS crisis. The contributions of Dr. Tomar, and other first responders, shine brightly through this sad time in American history when fear and profit trumped compassion. The title of the book states the author's philosophy on what can be accomplished: Don’t Stop Dreaming. The author still advocates on the web for HIV testing. An index and glossary of medical terms provide help for both layperson and researcher.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review