| R>Princess Diana was loved around the world for her | | | | Princess Diana was loved around the world for her |
| humanitarian and compassionate work. Her easy | | | | humanitarian and compassionate work. Her easy |
| rapport with people in need and her warm, | | | | rapport with people in need and her warm, |
| understanding heart touched millions of lives. Here she | | | | understanding heart touched millions of lives. Here she |
| describes the incident that turned the attention of | | | | describes the incident that turned the attention of |
| the world to the cause of AIDS. | | | | the world to the cause of AIDS. |
| I had always wanted to hug people in hospital beds. | | | | I had always wanted to hug people in hospital beds. |
| A visit to an AIDS hospice in 1991, with Mrs. Bush, | | | | A visit to an AIDS hospice in 1991, with Mrs. Bush, |
| was a stepping stone for me. This particular man, | | | | was a stepping stone for me. This particular man, |
| who was so ill, started crying when I sat on his bed, | | | | who was so ill, started crying when I sat on his bed, |
| and he held my hand, and I thought Diana, do it, just | | | | and he held my hand, and I thought Diana, do it, just |
| do it, and I gave him an enormous hug. It was just | | | | do it, and I gave him an enormous hug. It was just |
| so touching because he clung to me and he cried. I | | | | so touching because he clung to me and he cried. I |
| thought, Wonderful! | | | | thought, Wonderful! |
| On the other side of the room, a very young man, | | | | On the other side of the room, a very young man, |
| who I can only describe as beautiful, lying in his bed, | | | | who I can only describe as beautiful, lying in his bed, |
| told me he was going to die about Christmas. His | | | | told me he was going to die about Christmas. His |
| friend, a man sitting in a chair by his bed, was crying | | | | friend, a man sitting in a chair by his bed, was crying |
| his eyes out. "Why not me?" he said. I put my hand | | | | his eyes out. "Why not me?" he said. I put my hand |
| out to him and said; "It's not supposed to be easy, all | | | | out to him and said; "It's not supposed to be easy, all |
| this. Isn't it extraordinary, wherever I go, It's always | | | | this. Isn't it extraordinary, wherever I go, It's always |
| those like you, sitting in a chair, who have to go | | | | those like you, sitting in a chair, who have to go |
| through such hell, whereas those who accept they | | | | through such hell, whereas those who accept they |
| are going to die are calm?" | | | | are going to die are calm?" |
| He said;"I didn't know that happened. " | | | | He said;"I didn't know that happened. " |
| And I said; "Well, it does; you're not the only one. It's | | | | And I said; "Well, it does; you're not the only one. It's |
| wonderful that you're actually by his bed. You'll learn | | | | wonderful that you're actually by his bed. You'll learn |
| so much from watching your friend. " | | | | so much from watching your friend. " |
| He was crying and clung on to my hand, and I felt so | | | | He was crying and clung on to my hand, and I felt so |
| comfortable in there. I just hated being taken away. | | | | comfortable in there. I just hated being taken away. |
| When I go into the Palace for a garden party or | | | | When I go into the Palace for a garden party or |
| summit meeting dinner, I am a very different person. | | | | summit meeting dinner, I am a very different person. |
| I conform to what's expected of me; but when I | | | | I conform to what's expected of me; but when I |
| come to the hospice, know when I turn my light off | | | | come to the hospice, know when I turn my light off |
| at night, did my best. | | | | at night, did my best. |
| Diana, Princess of Wales | | | | |