Reverend Serafin
 

So my next patient 22 years old present with weakness, fever diarrhea, and swollen glands. I dread asking the questions that I must.

Do you have sex with men, women, or both?

--Both

Do you bottom or top

--Bottom

with or without a condom?

--without

So his screening ELISA is negative for anitbody to HIV 1 and 2.... and his HIV RNA titer comes back........... 268,465 copies

" You have AIDS" I report to this........ child

He sobs and my heart breaks again. "I hate this job!!!"


So I go through the routine.

So I call the hospital chaplain, Reverend Serafin. Sounds like a name out of a novel but that is indeed her real name.

She does her best.... and I am grateful, because I don't have what it takes to give what this child needs today.

Honey
 

Listen to me. Your heart was involved. That was all that was needed at the moment.

Your warmheartedness leads you into feeling so much, and that is the essence of compassion. Does it make one break in two? Yes. But that simply leaves one open. And that is Love. Nothing less than Love.

Listen to me: you have more than what it takes. And you know this. Be still. And know that the Love that Loves Loves You.

ah, bless you Scotty. you did well, and the fact that it breaks your heart shows how much love and compassion reside in you.

Wow Scotty what a wonderful and heartbreaking testimony. Clearly you do have what it takes and that's a deep felt compassion, that this child could experience. Thank you for sharing it with all of us. These kinds of moments are transformational, for all concerned. Kara

Appreciation
 

Thanks for all of your words and feelings. Daniel, Steve and Kara. Your capacity for compassion shows here as well!

:love:

You are a kind, compassionate gentle soul. That probably meant the world to him at that moment.

Thank goodness that this guy had you as his doctor, instead of some homophobic jerk who would probably have treated him like garbage. Bless that boy, and bless you! *hugs*

After 30 years in nursing I can still remember the first AIDS pt I took care of, or as we called it then "GRID".

oh dear!
 

You started your nursing career at age 9?:love:

Thanks Guys Antioch, Tallit, Tdogg!

Thanfully The ID Doc had samples to start him on until he can link in to the program to get his meds. resources are tighter than before

Maybe if your counting in "doggie years" ;-)

I'm glad you were there doc. He heard the news from someone with compassion instead of a homophobic jerk. At least these days there is treatment.

Your compassion will also allow him to come back for help as he needs it without fear of judgement. That too is important. I have lost 2 friends to aids. One had to go to another town to find a supportive Dr. because his regular MD was so judgemental. It was very sad.

Any of us in the healthcare profession hate those days when these things happen. But that is why we are there....to support and help those patients when they need it the most. Your heart aches for them. As has been said, that shows how much you care. We have all seen healthcare professionals that don't and should not be there.

Thank you for caring!

Oh Scotty, if we all could have your kind of therapy. Ahh, what a relief.