Meet Nikki Rideout - the first seed of hope.
Born Nov. 6, 1992 at the local hospital in Uthaithani province, Thailand, Nikki was subsequently abandoned at the hospital by her parents. Sometime later, having tested HIV+, she was transferred to the Vieng Ping Babies Home, a government orphanage in Chiang Mai. During her stay at the Home, Nikki developed various infections and spent time in the

hospital. Considering her beyond help, the doctor wrote in her chart, "leave her to die." But Nikki survived and was returned to the orphanage.
Having for sometime been a volunteer at the Vieng Ping Babies Home, I decided to begin helping in the newly opened section for babies with HIV/AIDS. There I first met Nikki, at that time known as Jarawee, and a strong bond quickly developed between us. From the beginning, I wanted to