I have been contemplating getting a tattoo for a while. I had finally decided to get "sucker" tattoed across my forehead, but then today at work realized that it might already be there. We have a patient at RFM who we "started" on HIV meds just about one year ago now. She would come every month for her refills and she had perfect adherence on her pill counts, but her CD4 kept dropping. Finally about two months ago, she admitted to us that she never started the medication. She had been throwing them away for 10 months. It turns out her husband, who also signed her adherence contract before initiation, does not really believe in ARVs. After our discussion that day, she said she wanted to start. Needless to say, we were more than a little skeptical so have had her come back again for many more conversations. One of our nurses is a neighbor and had really extended herself to help this family. She felt betrayed and did not feel that she could care for this family any more. I decided in talking with the patient that we needed to give her a second chance. I really feel if she went to the regular ART site she would get lost. Turns out I am the only one in clinic who really feels this way, but people went along with me reluctantly. So today I (hopefully) officially started this woman on ARVs. She cried and thanked me for "working overtime" to help her. Only time will tell if I have been duped or was right to give her a second chance.
Then there is the mother who a few months ago brought a rug to clinic that she was selling. It was quite a nice blue rug and she was only selling it for $6 so I bought it. 
Let's be honest though, I would have bought the ugliest rug for however much she asked just because I appreciate that she is taking the initiative to make a living for her and her daughter. My mistake might have been when I said, "Do you have more? You should bring them next time." I have now bought five rugs from her and each for almost double what she has asked. They are still very nice rugs, but really how many rugs does one girl need? I now have two in my place and have found happy homes for the remainder. Two to three rugs a month for the next twelve months...I think I can predict what my shipping allowance home is going to go towards.
Let's be honest though, I would have bought the ugliest rug for however much she asked just because I appreciate that she is taking the initiative to make a living for her and her daughter. My mistake might have been when I said, "Do you have more? You should bring them next time." I have now bought five rugs from her and each for almost double what she has asked. They are still very nice rugs, but really how many rugs does one girl need? I now have two in my place and have found happy homes for the remainder. Two to three rugs a month for the next twelve months...I think I can predict what my shipping allowance home is going to go towards. We revived Euker night tonight. Lots of newbies so there was a tutorial by Nicole to start.
One of our new docs arrived this morning and the other will get here on Thursday. Exciting times. 
1 comment:
I almost didn't get by the sentence "I've been contemplating getting a tattoo" -- I'm not so excited about that, but buying the rugs is okay :-)
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