Today i remember David. He was just 24, he had been in and out of the hospital so many, many times back then and was often my patient. His family had blamed his being gay to getting AIDs and totally denied any visitation from his partner Andy. I would say a "procedure" was being done and usher the family out and then sneak Andy in. Never got caught. I was lucky.
David kept deteriorating and in the end did not know even who Andy was. Back then, AIDs patients did not get near the care they should have. Even a lot of doctors were afraid of them. He was suffering and IV lines were not working. He had needed a Central line but his Doc told me "No, he's dying". OK, so, he's dying and doesn't deserve pain relief? Since he is dying we let him suffer? No, i don't think so. Off to the ethics committee we went and in the end, David got his central line and his pain relief.
He died two days later. His family, by then, had turned their backs. Andy was very poor and sick as well. David was buried in a paupers grave down town that is run by the city.
His image haunts me to this day. It is one of a lot of patients back then. Confused, scared, dying and people, even medical people, turning their backs on them.
I miss you David, i really do. We've come a long way and today you may have lived. You brought beauty into my life and a joy from knowing you that will linger for my forever.
I pray there are no more Davids out there. I pray no one turns their backs. I pray this disease goes the f away and never ever harms another soul.
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~ I've learned that people will forget what you said,
people will forget what you did,
but people will never forget how you made them feel. ~
Maya Angelou
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