Blog
ANOTHER AMPATH STORY
January 19, 2008
"Joel" has two wives, like many men in Kenya (it's legal to take more than one wife). Unlike most, he has 11 years of education under his belt. He can provide a fairly good life for his wives and seven children. He came to AMPATH to be voluntarily tested for HIV, something all healthcare providers in Kenya are urging more people to do. However, the stigma of HIV is so high, that even being seen walking into a testing site can mean social repercussions we can't imagine.
The impetus for Joel getting tested was that his first wife got sick. When she was diagnosed with HIV, Joel took responsibility and came to the clinic. Joel found that he was HIV+. He has not disclosed his status to his second wife yet. To be fair, he has only known his own status for a few weeks. He has had problems with alcohol abuse, but states that his health is his primary focus now. He has had nothing to drink in over a week.
"The war is on," he tells me. He is ready to fight this disease, for himself and his family. When the Clinical Officer (like our Physician Assistants) asks him when he's going to tell his second wife, he hesitates. He is clearly unsure how to disclose something like this. I wonder if he feels responsible for infecting his first wife – promiscuity is rampant among Kenyan men and heterosexual transmission is the main mode of infection. The CO chides him that it is his responsibility to tell her. "You have to fight the stigma," she tells him, using his war analogy.
He hangs his head. "I am embarrassed," he honestly admits. The CO softens a bit. She gives him some advice, asks him to bring his second wife in to be tested. The staff will help, she assures him. She starts to ask about his children, but he is obviously not ready to face the fact that his children could be sick.
HONORARY CHAIR
January 11, 2008
The countdown has begun.
We're less than 2 months out from the event! Things are getting exciting but nervewracking, knowing that we're in the homestretch.
Back when I started planning and conceptualizing this event, I started thinking about ways to bring awareness to the plight of people living with HIV in Kenya. I was inspired, as a lot of people are, by the Bono's and Angelina's of the world, who can -- just by showing up to a place -- bring so much publicity and change.
I started looking up other celebs that I admired, people who really put time into visiting with HIV+ people -- seeing their world, getting involved in their lives, working with them in the often dirty environment in which a lot of these people live. I was excited to read about actors and actresses who leave the glamor behind and toil with these less fortunate people, even for a little bit. My short month in Kenya has changed my life, so I know that even a week really visiting with people can have an immense impact on you.
I found Alyssa Milano's website (www.alyssa.com/) and was amazed at the many trips she's taken and speeches she's made about her experiences. She even has some photos from her journeys that you can see. So, I invited her to be our honorary chair -- so that we can help other people get inspired by her work. I just wanted to say a big Thank You to her, for giving so selflessly, for caring when a lot of people turn away, and for continuing to fight this disease that has left over 13 million children orphans in Africa.
She said she would love to come to the event and accept our title of Honorary Chair. I am so excited to meet another person who is so pulled toward this population that you keep going back to help more.
It's going to be a great night.
A STORY FROM AMPATH
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
I wanted to share a few stories with you about people I met when I was in Kenya last year. They are patients at AMPATH, and I met them during my day in clinic. The first is about a woman I'll call "Naomi."
"Naomi" is 28 years old with two children under 5. About 5 months ago, she started losing weight and feeling fatigued doing her normal daily activities – cooking for the children and her husband, walking into town for fresh fruits, mending clothes and caring for their home. A friend became concerned as Naomi wasn't able to get out of bed; she took her to the hospital and Naomi was diagnosed with HIV.
She was, as all patients who are newly diagnosed with HIV, enrolled automatically in AMPATH. She slowly regained her strength, as AMPATH workers brought fresh farm food for her and her family. However, her physical turnaround was countered by her husband, who became abusive toward her and their children. He kicked her out of the house and into their small one-room shed. He refused them food and money, telling her that her having HIV was her fault and he wanted nothing to do with her. He refused to get tested himself, even though Naomi strongly suspected that he was the source of her disease. Instead, he took another wife (which is legal in Kenya) without telling her about Naomi's HIV status.
Naomi turned to AMPATH to have her children tested – fortunately they were negative. She is now relying on AMPATH's medications, doctors and clinical officers (like physician assistants), and the food the farm workers bring. They are also helping her get out of her situation in the abusive home, finding room for her and her children at the Women and Children's shelter. Unfortunately, her family has also disowned her; AMPATH is all she has now.
MORE STUFF!
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
The love keeps coming!
The president of Citizens of Humanity is donating several pairs of jeans for the silent auction! Check out their line at http://www.citizensofhumanity.com/ - really great stuff...with a nice retro feel, if you ask me.
We also are in the process of getting a few items of clothing / accessories from the wonderful folks at Ed Hardy. They have a really fun website: http://www.donedhardy.com/. Take a look around the site, there's a lot to see!
The residents and I have put out a ton of feelers, so we're hoping that after the holiday bustle wears down, we can do a round of follow-ups and secure a few more things. We're especially interested in getting some sports tickets, so if anyone has connections to the Lakers, Dodgers, Galaxy, etc, please leave me a message! I'd love to get in touch with you.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone!
DONATIONS WELCOME!
November 30, 2007
We've entered the next phase of the event...securing donations. This is vital as our main means of raising money is going to be the silent auction. So, far I've got a few wonderful artist friends who are donating some pieces (check out Mark Landry's myspace page on my top friends for his awesome portraits!). I've also made contact with a fabulous man who used to live in Kenya and runs an online art-house for African artistis. After bonding over our love for all things Kenyan, he happily agreed to donate some pieces when the event came closer. Please check out some amazing artists at his site: insideafricanart.com. So, we've got a list of potential sponsors, and the residents are starting to make calls and send emails.
Once again, keep your fingers crossed!
OUR FIRST SPONSOR!
November 4, 2007
We have secured our first sponsor!
We have a week's stay at a fabulous resort in Belize to raffle off! Check out the awesome paradise where one lucky winner will stay: http://www.tranquilitybayresort.com/
We're working on securing an airline to sponsor 2 tickets for roundtrip air accomodations. Keep your fingers crossed...
