NAMES IN THE NEWS : AIDS Victim Spends New Year’s Holiday With Michael Jackson

AIDS victim Ryan White spent the New Year’s holiday with pop singer Michael Jackson, resting and watching movies at Jackson’s California ranch, White’s mother said today.

Jeanne White said her son has been at Jackson’s ranch in Santa Barbara, since Thursday and is expected to return to the family’s home in Cicero later today.

“They’ve had a really good time,” Jeanne White said in a telephone interview.

She said the trip has taken her son’s mind away from his most recent physical ailments.

White, who turned 18 last month, has recently suffered staph infections, a low-platelet count, a hernia, a protein deficiency and fluid retention, in addition to AIDS.

A hemophiliac, White contracted acquired immune deficiency syndrome from a blood transfusion. Four years ago, he attracted national attention when he was barred from attending Western Middle School near Kokomo by officials who feared that the AIDS could be transmitted to other students.

A judge ruled that Ryan should be allowed to attend school because the disease cannot be transmitted through casual contact. Since then, the Whites have moved to Cicero, where Ryan attends Hamilton Heights High School.

White had been scheduled to undergo hernia surgery twice last year, but both operations were canceled because of low platelet counts. Mrs. White said the operation had not been rescheduled this month because of inconsistent platelet levels.

“They don’t know why they keep fluctuating,” Mrs. White said.