Its never too late to start!

One of the scary things about HIV is that it seems like the end.

“What kind of a life will I have if I find out I have this disease?”

“What will happen to me?”

“How will others react to me?  How will they treat me if they find out I have HIV?”

“What hope do I have if I have HIV – it’s incurable isn’t it?”

These are all real questions and they bring much fear with them.

The good news is that there is hope – and that it is never too late to start.  No matter what situation you may be in.  No matter how messed up my life may be.

It is possible to change.  It is possible to move out of whatever we are in now.  It is possible to live a life that is better than what I see around me today!

HIV/AIDS is a disease.  Its a virus that attacks our body.  Its not a curse from God.  Its not a direct punishment for anything.

At Jeevan Sahara Kendra, we have now come in contact with almost 1000 people who have HIV or were very likely to have the disease.   We have seen all kinds of people and notice one important fact:  those who try to find out the truth about themselves and their condition are the ones that survive.

On the other hand we have seen many people with HIV who try to hide, who don’t want to know about their condition, who avoid dealing with the realities of their lives.  Sadly many of  these friends with HIV are not with us anymore.  They have died because the disease worked its way to weaken their immune system – and they did not do anything about it.

The key is being willing to do something.  Willing to start the change.  No matter how bad the situation is – there is always hope!

A small example:  a couple we know found out that they had HIV.  The husband became very sick.  He was so sick that he slipped into a coma.  His wife was advised by the man’s brother to take him to the Christian Medical College Hospital in Vellore.  Many people told her it was a waste of time and money – that her husband would never survive.  She persisted and the doctors there treated her husband.  He came out of the coma.  Bother were started on ART medications.  Today both are alive and well – 7 years after this happened!   As sick as her husband was, he was not dead yet.  There was hope and his wife worked on that hope.  God answered prayers and instead of being a widow, this lady has a husband still with her!

Whatever the situation you are in.  Never, never, never, never give up!

Do contact us if there is anyway you would like to be helped – especially if you or someone you love has HIV/AIDS.

Hope

There comes a time when each one of us has to face the truth.

For some of us, it is when we get a laboratory report – we have been tested for the HIV anti-body.  The test result tells us that our body has the HIV virus.  We are HIV positive.

What now?

What shall I do?  Where should I go?  Who should I tell?  What will happen to me?  To my loved ones?  To those who I dream about looking after?

So many questions crowd into our minds.

We have heard that HIV is a dreadful disease – but never thought I would have it – or someone that we love has it.

Stop.  Take a deep breath.  Think.  Pray.

It is really, really important not to give up HOPE.

Whether it is the doctors and social workers at Jeevan Sahara Kendra, or dedicated people in other places – there are people who love you and want the very best for you.

HIV/AIDS is a serious condition – lets not deny this – but there are many things that can be done these days.  At Jeevan Sahara Kendra we have been working with families who have HIV for 7 years now – and have seen some wonderful transformations take place.

The important thing is not to give up hope.  And not to give in to despair.  To fight against the lies that whisper in our ears: ‘what’s the use?’ ‘nobody loves me’ ‘I am a failure and a hindrance to others’ and many such lies.

Living with HIV/AIDS is not easy – but it is being done – by many wonderful and courageous people all around us.  We want to help you if you have questions.  Please contact us at any time – you are valuable and precious.

If you do not have HIV, or do not have someone with HIV in your family – would you consider ‘adopting’ someone wtih HIV into your family?  You can pray for them – meet them and bless them in so many ways.  Besides the help that our brothers and sisters with HIV need – we all need to be thanking God for His kindness to us each day.   Please contact us about how we can help facilitate this for you.

We all need hope.  To move forward.  To live today.

Live in Hope!

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written on Good Friday 2009

An end

Yesterday our staff tried to admit her at the government teaching hospital in Kalwa.

She does need admission they said and refused to take her.

We looked after her during the night.  She had a terrible set of ulcers in her legs – all infected and pus-filled – which her daughter and young son were looking after.  Her whole body was swollen up.  She had difficulty breathing.

If there was anyone who needed in-patient care, it was this HIV positive lady who was in such distress.

With the little that we could do, we nursed her through the night.

This morning she died at a little after 10 AM.

Once again, our public health system has failed us.  It is so disheartening to see so many who do not get care – and care in time.

Join us in praying for a difference – for love and respect for people with HIV from the medical fraternity – and from each one of us.  We can each help and make a difference – by meeting and being with people with HIV, by helping out in practical ways, by spreading the word that people with HIV need love, not fear.  Acceptance not rejection.  A helping hand, not a push-off.

The lady who died this morning is gone.  She will not come back to us in this life.  But many others like her are still alive – living with HIV.  Lets make sure they do not end this way!

Jesus said we should love our neighbours as we love ourselves.   None of us would like to come to the end of our life in this way – lets make sure it doesn’t happen to others too.  Time to put love into action!

Hot off the press…

Dr. Patrick Dixon has written many many books.   Today we received his latest – a Marathi translation of AIDS and You.

We are excited to have this simple but powerful book which helps people understand what HIV/AIDS is and gives practical and wise guidance for how to respond.

Later this afternoon we will have a small prayer meeting with a local pastor who has a real heart for people with HIV and ask God to use this book to help people with HIV and those who look after them.

Jeevan Sahara Kendra is also privileged to be listed as one of the contact addresses given for people who want to follow-up and who would like advice and referrals.

We know that a single phone call and make a huge difference for a family in need.  Sadly every month we read in the newspapers about people with HIV who have given up hope and have committed suicide.  So much can be done – and so much hope is available.   With great opportunities come great responsibilities!

Keeping trust alive

The person behind the paper has HIV.

But we are not showing the person’s face.

Why?

Because we still live in an age where to admit you are living with HIV has serious consequences.

People who you know do not want to know you.  Your job may be at risk.  Your landlord may ask you to leave your room that you are renting from him.  Your own family members may not welcome you into their homes any more.

Though we have had HIV in India for 23 years now – it is still the disease that dares not speak its name.

At Jeevan Sahara Kendra we are committed to serving people with HIV.   We are also very aware of the stigma that so many of our Positive Friends face when others find out about their status.

That is why we try hard to maintain the confidentiality of each person we serve.   That’s why every person who gets counselled and tested for HIV has a code number.  That’s why our prayer calenders always use pseudonyms to refer to the Positive Friends we are seeking prayer for.  That is why we assure our Positive Friends that whatever they share with us will remain confidential.  We will not disclose their identity, status or situations to other people.

At the same time, we wish for the day when people with HIV can be more open about what is happening in their lives.   The fear of others ‘finding out’ does so much damage.   Besides keeping people from getting the correct treatment for themselves, it also means that many procrastinate telling their spouses and other loved ones about their status.

When combined with a sense of denial – it means that many with HIV never let others know the truth about themselves – always hoping that they will ‘get better’ – always postponing the decision for ‘another time.’    Sadly, for some this means that when others find out about their HIV status, it is too late.

I can remember a young man being carried out on a stretcher – on his last journey to the hospital – mainly because he and his widowed mother did not want others to know about his status.

We must work at both nurturing the trust of people with HIV, helping each person know that their trust is safe with us.   At the same time, we want people with HIV to be bolder and come out more about their status.   The best example for others to emulate is the courageous step of a person getting up and publicly telling others about their HIV status.

At Jeevan Sahara Kendra we want to be as harmless as doves, but as wise as serpents.  We want to protect the identity of our Positive Friends – while at the same time pushing back the boundaries and allowing People living with HIV to stand up and tell about their situations!

Home visit

Meeting a person with HIV in their own home is the simple but challenging key to Home-based HIV care.

Simple and solid – because we are in the person’s own place of residence.  We are now the guest – instead of calling the shots and telling people where to sit as happens in a hospital OPD.   As we stoop to enter the door, we are also (hopefully) stooping in our inner being and accepting hospitality.  This is sometimes hard to do,  but so important, since it gives great dignity to our positive friends and their care-givers.

Challenging, because you never know what will happen.

When the neighbour lady stops in to see who the ‘guests’ are – then the conversation has to avoid anything to do with HIV, medications etc.

When things get out of control and an argument erupts between the spouses we are meeting.  Do we allow the talk to take its course?  We we intervene?  Do we get up and say we will come again?

Difficult when each time the same issues keep showing themselves.  Each family has its own share of miseries.  For some, it is fear and shame regarding others.  For others an inability to get work.  Still others are tired of being sick – and caring for the sick.  Others have issues of alcohol abuse – and the seedy business of working through broken relationships.

For each home visit we go with a prayer.  We listen.  We encourage.  We check on the physical well-being, the emotional situations, the relational issues, the life of the spirit.   We leave words of encouragement.   Offer advice when needed (and likely to be heeded!).  Usually share some words from God’s word – and a prayer.

Coming out of the home we never know how much good has been finally done.  But we do know that lives are being changed – as they go through the valley of having HIV.

Counselling and Testing for HIV/AIDS

Jeevan Sahara Kendra is happy to announce that we are now able to counsel and test for HIV at the JSK centre.

Anyone who would like to be tested for HIV – or has a family member or friend they feel should be tested – is welcome to come between 9.30 AM and 5 PM from Monday to Friday and from 9.30 AM to 1 PM on Saturdays.

Our experienced counsellors will meet with and explain the HIV test and possible outcomes to those who need the test.  After getting voluntary consent, a blood sample will be taken which will be testing for HIV anti-bodies using 3 different reagents.

Though the cost of the reagents alone is over Rs. 400 we will collect a minimum fee of Rs. 10 per person.   [note: individuals who would like to contribute more are welcome to do so - this will allow us to test more people who cannot afford the costs].

The test result will be given along with post-test counselling on the next working day.  All results will be confidential.

The Jeevan Sahara Kendra will be able to help people who test positive through medical supervision and home-care, as well as being able to refer to the government health facilities.

Please call up at (022) 25899248 for further information.

A telephone call

The man on the phone wanted to talk.

He was a young man and had a good job. A few of his friends took him and they had some drinks. Then they went to the red light area in Mumbai. Along with his friends the young man had sex with a prostitute there.

Now he is going to get married. The date has been fixed. But in his mind is fear. Does he have HIV?

He agreed to come to Jeevan Sahara for counselling. Dr. Sheba met with the young man. She explained the risks that he had taken. She explained that it would be good to test for HIV – but that since the risk exposure was recent that we would do one test now and one in 3 months.

We got a call recently from this young man. His second test has come back negative. But he did it at 2 months and wants to get married now….

In a world where almost every film and every other TV show tells us that sexual fulfillment is the only way forward (and that too not with a loving long-term wedded partner – but by ‘playing the field’) we are see so many who take the long-term risk of getting HIV in exchange for a night of pleasure.

JSK is currently involved in over 200 people living with HIV in Thane. Each one is precious. Almost all have the disease because they or someone they trusted were sexually active outside the marriage relationship. Lets not let it go any further.

Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise.

Youth Against AIDS Fest 08

We are excited about the opportunity for young people to get together learn how to take control of their lives and live confidently in an age of AIDS.

Jeevan Sahara Kendra has been blessed with some wonderful staff, friends, partners and volunteers (often all of these at once) who are working hard to make this programme happen!

More details can be had at: www.YouthAgainstAIDS.com

Prayer on World AIDS Day