Caring for the health of patients with AIDS

This is one of the short stories for the 2022 newsletter, thanks to Auntie Lou for being there for people living with HIV so that they can be protected both physically and spiritually! Thank you to our prayer group, Sister Teresa, who wrote a heartfelt message for the story!

Author: Auntie Lu (Yunnan Caring Service Team)

How to guard the health of AIDS patients with heart

(A) Start by caring for the patient's psychology:

Patients who have just been diagnosed cannot accept the fact that they are suffering from AIDS, they are depressed and have hopeless thoughts about life and living, and they may hurt themselves; when they are agitated, they may engage in anti-social behaviors, etc. In serving the patients, we always communicate with them sincerely with empathy, warmth, acceptance, and positivity, so as to understand the problems that the patients need to be solved, to appease their emotions, to listen, to accompany them, to be with them, and to help them to be healthy and to be a part of their lives. We also try to calm the patient's emotions, listen, accompany and help the patient to reduce stress, and explain the basic knowledge of AIDS to eliminate the patient's fear of AIDS.

(b) Adjustment of patients' physical needs:

"This is a hard line we often tell patients, although not gentle enough, but many patients have memorized this line; patients who have just started taking antiretroviral drugs are in the stage of immune reconstruction, and many of them are in great pain, and some of them are mentally confused when they take EFV drugs. Some patients who took EFV drugs became mentally confused, while others who took AZT drugs became severely anemic, etc. We told the patients to find a doctor to change the drugs in time. For patients with HIV combined with various types of tumors, there were strong side-effects after chemotherapy, such as an extreme decrease in platelet and white blood cell counts, severe paralysis, inability to eat, and severe malnutrition, etc. We encouraged and accompanied the patients to cope with changes in their conditions in a tough manner, and provided them with different kinds of nutritious products in time, so that the patients had the strength to tide over the difficult times. There are also patients who have received more than 10 rounds of chemotherapy and whose families are in financial difficulties and can no longer afford to insist on treatment. We help to connect the patients with resources from various sources, such as connecting them with the medical insurance, applying for the Ricci Social Service Medical Poverty Waiver Program, and going to hospitals for medical assistance, etc., so as to help them to be physically fit and healthy.

Prayer Group Sister Teresa's thoughts on Auntie Lu's reading:

The content is very relevant to the topic, and not only does it make the reader feel the aunt's love, but also her empathy! She has shown great determination and hard work in carrying out her service! Good luck, Auntie!