Donald Gross Sr.

Donald Helsman 
Nov. 15, 1992 
Donald A. Helsman, 77, Of Allenwood, Rd 1, Died Sunday In The Evangelical 
Community Hospital, Lewisburg.

By JAMES RUBIN; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Thursday, November 19, 1992 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1D QUICK WORDS: AIDS 





SCRANTON -- Frank talk was foremost at an AIDS Information Night sponsored
by the Pro-Life Office of the Diocese of Scranton Wednesday night. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 While Rev. Jack Anderson urged compassion for victims of Acquired Immune
Deficiency Syndrome and the HIV virus that causes it, Dr. Stephen Pancoast, an
infectious diseases expert from Scranton, boiled his hour-long slide
presentation to three words. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; DON'T GET IT. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "There has never been a spontaneous remission or cure of the disease," he
told an audience of about 60 parents, teachers, high school and junior high
school students at Nativity Auditorium. "All I can do is stall the disease's
progress. It will kill you." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The AIDS night was the third this year sponsored by the Scranton Diocese.
Another will be at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 3 at Bishop Hoban High School in
Wilkes-Barre. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 HIV -- human immunodeficiency virus, which causes AIDS -- cripples the
body's ability to fight off infection. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 It is transmitted through the exchange of body fluids, and can occur
through sexual contact, blood transfusions and needle sharing. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Dr. Pancoast was spare in his language but generous with the statistics and
graphs he used to illustrate the magnitude of the disease. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The number of HIV cases has increased for all demographic groups except
homosexuals, for whom there has been a slight decline, he said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 AIDS is pushing up health care costs and a cure is not much closer than it
was a decade ago. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "The (graph) curves all look the same. They all are going up," he said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 More than 200,000 people have died from AIDS worldwide and that the number
should rise dramatically, he said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "It may even be the leading cause of death (among all ailments)," he said.
"No one knows how many unreported cases exist." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Since 1981 when the first cases of AIDS were diagnosed, Lackawanna County
has had 257 recorded cases of HIV and 79 deaths due to AIDS-related maladies.
Dr. Pancoast said the number could be more than double, because some people
with the virus either don't know they have it or are reluctant to step
forward. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Dr. Pancoast emphasized prevention, even if it means using condoms. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I would be hypocritical if I did not mention them," he said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Catholic church does not accept the use of condoms. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Rev. Anderson said Pancoast's message did not conflict with church policy. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "The message is still there is no safe sex," he said.

Talk Grim 
At Aids 
Info Night 
Dr. Stephen Pancoast Had Sobering Information About Aids For Parents, Teachers 
And Students At A Talk Sponsored By The 
Diocese Of Scranton

Talk Grim At Aids Info Night Dr. Stephen Pancoast Had Sobering Information About Aids For Parents, Teachers And Students At A Talk Sponsored By The Diocese Of Scranton