Who Was Ariel Glaser? Wiki, Age, Death, Family, BIO & Facts About Elizabeth Glaser’s Daughter
Ariel Glaser was the daughter of Elizabeth Glaser, a prominent AIDS activist and co-founder of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF), and Paul Michael Glaser, a famous actor and director best known for his role as Detective Dave Starsky in the 1970s television series Starsky & Hutch.
Ariel was born with HIV in 1981 after her mother contracted the virus from a blood transfusion during childbirth. She died of AIDS-related complications in 1988, at the age of seven. Her life and death inspired her parents to fight for the rights and health of children and families affected by HIV and AIDS and to raise awareness and funds for research, prevention, and treatment.
Early Life and Family
Ariel Glaser was born in August 1981, in Los Angeles, California. She was the first child of Elizabeth and Paul Michael Glaser, who married in 1980. She had two younger siblings, Jake, born in 1984, and Zoe, born in 1986. Ariel was a bright and cheerful girl, who loved music, dancing, painting, and playing with her friends and family. She attended the Westland School, a progressive elementary school in Los Angeles.
Diagnosis
In 1986, when Ariel was four years old, she became ill with a persistent fever, cough, and swollen glands. Her parents took her to several doctors, who initially diagnosed her with a viral infection, an ear infection, and a sinus infection. However, none of the treatments worked, and Ariel’s condition worsened. She developed pneumonia, thrush, and seizures, and was hospitalized several times. Finally, a blood test revealed that she had AIDS, the advanced stage of HIV infection. Her parents were shocked and devastated, as they had no idea how she could have contracted the virus.
They soon learned that Elizabeth had also tested positive for HIV, and that she had unknowingly passed the virus to Ariel through breast milk, and to Jake in utero. The source of Elizabeth’s infection was traced back to a blood transfusion she received in 1981 while giving birth to Ariel. At that time, the AIDS epidemic was just emerging, and there was no screening or testing of blood donors for HIV. Elizabeth had received contaminated blood from an anonymous donor, who later died of AIDS.
Ariel Glaser Wiki/Bio
| Name | Ariel Glaser |
| Born | August 1981 |
| Died | August 12, 1988 (aged 7) |
| Cause of death | AIDS-related complications |
| Parents | Elizabeth Glaser (mother), Paul Michael Glaser (father) |
| Siblings | Jake Glaser (brother) Zoe Glaser (half-sister) |
| Known for | Daughter of AIDS activist Elizabeth Glaser and actor Paul Michael Glaser, inspiration for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation |
| zoglaze | |
| Homepage | newsunzip.com |
Treatment and Advocacy
Ariel’s diagnosis came at a time when there was very little knowledge and treatment options for HIV and AIDS, especially for children. The only drug available was AZT, which had been approved by the FDA in 1987 for adults, but not for children. Elizabeth and Paul fought to get Ariel access to the drug, hoping that it would prolong her life and improve her quality of life. They also enrolled her in experimental trials of other drugs, such as ddI and ddC, which were not yet approved or widely available.
However, the drugs had severe side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, anemia, and liver damage, and they did not stop the progression of the disease. Ariel’s health continued to decline, and she suffered from frequent infections, pain, and fatigue. She also faced stigma and discrimination from people who feared and misunderstood AIDS. She was rejected by several preschools, and isolated from some of her friends and relatives.
Elizabeth and Paul decided to go public with their story, to raise awareness and compassion for people living with HIV and AIDS and to advocate for more research and funding for pediatric AIDS. They gave interviews to magazines and newspapers, such as People and The Washington Post, and appeared on television shows, such as Good Morning America and The Oprah Winfrey Show. They also testified before Congress, and met with President Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy, to urge them to take action and support the fight against AIDS.
In 1988, Elizabeth, along with her close friends Susan DeLaurentis and Susie Zeegen, founded the Pediatric AIDS Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to finding a cure and preventing the transmission of HIV from mothers to children. The foundation raised money for research grants, clinical trials, and medical centers, and supported families and communities affected by HIV and AIDS. Elizabeth became a leader and a spokesperson for the cause, inspiring millions of people with her courage and determination.
Death and Legacy
Ariel died on August 12, 1988, at her home in Santa Monica, California, surrounded by her family and friends. She was seven years old. Her funeral was attended by hundreds of people, including celebrities, politicians, and activists. She was buried at Hillside Memorial Park in Culver City, California.
Ariel’s life and death had a profound impact on the world, especially on the field of pediatric AIDS. Her story helped to humanize the epidemic and to break the silence and stigma around the disease. Her parents’ advocacy led to the creation of the first national network of pediatric AIDS clinics, and the passage of the Ryan White CARE Act, which provided federal funding for AIDS care and support services. Her foundation became the leading global organization in the fight to end AIDS in children, and has since prevented millions of mother-to-child transmissions, and provided lifesaving treatment to millions of people living with HIV.
Ariel’s memory and spirit live on in the hearts and minds of those who knew and loved her, and those who continue her mission. Her paintings and drawings have been exhibited and auctioned to raise funds for the foundation, and her garden mural serves as the logo of the organization. Her name and image have been honored and commemorated in various ways, such as books, documentaries, awards, scholarships, and events. Her legacy is one of hope, love, and courage, and a reminder that every child deserves a chance to live a full and healthy life.
Trivia
- Ariel’s middle name was Hannah, which means “grace” in Hebrew.
- Ariel loved animals, especially dogs, cats, and horses. She had a pet dog named Lulu, and a horse named Star.
- She was a talented artist, who expressed her feelings and imagination through painting and drawing. She also enjoyed music, dancing, and singing.
- Ariel was close to her brother Jake, who also contracted HIV from their mother. Jake survived and became an ambassador for the foundation. He is now a healthy adult, who lives in Venice Beach, California, with his girlfriend Kerry Corridan, and runs a plant-based food company called Cool Foods.
- Her father, Paul Michael Glaser, remarried in 1996 to producer Tracy Barone, with whom he had a daughter, Zoe, in 1997. They divorced in 2007. Paul is still an actor and director, who has appeared in films and TV shows such as The Running Man, The Cutting Edge, Something’s Gotta Give, and Ray Donovan. He is also an artist and a writer, who published a novel, Chrystallia and the Source of Light, in 2012.
