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Rudy Galindo On His Health Status
In the figure skating world, the name Rudy Galindo or Val Joe Galindo by birth is widely known.He was born on September 7, 1969 in San Jose, California to parents of Mexican descent. His first skating lessons were with his sister Laura, who later on mentored him. He performed both in single skating and pair skating with Kristi Yamaguchi. During the 1996 US National Men’s Championship, he won first place and another third place during the World Men’s Championship of the same year.
He revealed a life lived with HIV in the April 5, 2000 issue of USA Today.His doctors advised him to be tested for HIV when his pneumonia did not respond to treatments. His pneumonia was discovered earlier that year, but the condition did not improve after months of treatment. He was indeed HIV positive, test results show. Rudy had his antiretroviral treatment since March 2000.
“I’ve made my mistakes, but I want to tell everyone that ‘safe sex’ is not an empty slogan,” reveals Rudy. After the diagnosis, he became an active member of various AIDS-related causes, groups and campaigns.Rudy was named honorary co-chairman of the National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC). Recognitions were bestowed upon him by AIDS-related groups for his active participation in AIDS education and prevention campaign.Among these acknowledgments are the Ryan White Award given on April 6, 2001, an A in the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, World AIDS Day 2000 Report Card, and the US flag given to him by the House of Representatives declaring him as a national treasure.
Rudy also suffered from hip problems caused by avascular necrosis (AVN) apart from his AIDS. Rudy managed to perform with failing hips for more than a year. The problem continued to affect Rudy and his hip became increasingly painful.Rudy then accepted the fact that total hip replacement (THR) was his best option and that he needed to have both hips replaced. He had two separate hip replacement procedures, first on his left then a few weeks after, on his right. Rudy received a ceramic-on-ceramic type of hip implant instead of the metal-on-metal device which was believed to be beneficial to active patients.Metal-on-metal hip implants are facing queries from consumers after it caused several complications that led to the issuance of hip replacement recall.
After his first surgery, Rudy engaged himself in physical therapy and managed to skate once more a few weeks after the operation. He got back the triple jumps he was performing before AVN and can do his shotgun. He has adjusted well to his implants following his surgery and rehabilitation.
Rudy Galindo’s experience clearly illustrates that despite the obstacles, one must face life with optimism, determination and courage.
Reference:
rudy-galindo.com/more1.htm
usfsa.org/Story.asp?id=38
hipsforyou.com/rudygalindo.php
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