Recently I was chatting with a fellow PHA from Windsor, Ontario, Canada. He was discussing a situation that the community had recently experienced in regards to the treatment of People living with HIV.
He discussed with me that recently a PHA had been booked to receive a major surgery. He was instructed by his Doctor to have someone come by and check in on him after he went home. This person experiences social isolation due to the HIV stigma. Also as Windsor is a smaller town the gay community is not as connected as in larger Canadian cities.
This gentleman had his own fears and concerns in being alone in a period of life that everyone wants someone to just be there to help us, and sit with us, as we heal. He called his local AIDS Service Organization the AIDS Committee of Windsor. The most he was hoping for was someone to just pop by and say "Hi" for a few days. I firmly believe and advocate that loneliness in life is one of humanities biggest killers. Perhaps one of humanities best healers. (Loneliness worse for your health than smoking and obesity)
Somehow, I do have to admit the skeptic in me was not surprised, however the most innocent part of me was shocked to hear that he was told "We are not a babysitting service."
It is becoming very obvious to me and the community that the Long Term Survivors have become ignored.
I can not imaging thinking for most of my life "I am ready", "I am OK with this" or maybe "I am not ready to..." to awakening to a new reality in the age of HAART. Its hard for anyone to let go of our fears. Surgery sounds scary under these circumstances.
The Yvette Perreault, Grief Counselor, Community Organizer and Director of the AIDS Bereavement Project of Ontario, writes in her Thesis (The presence of absence 2007) under her recommendations Pg. 193
"Organizational and Community Implications, Building a Community with Heart in the age of HARRT."
For me this statement makes me sad that we do not have a community with heart and gives me hope we are heading in the right direction.
