Through the Eyes of a Child
Gina persists through her many setbacks for herself and her children.
by Christian Piatt

For three and a half decades, Gina’s life reflected the American Dream. She graduated from college got a great job with excellent benefits, owned a new car and her own condo. At the age thirty she became a mother to a beautiful 8 lb. 15 oz. boy, who she naturally adored. Nothing seemed to stand in the way of her fulfilling all of her goals and dreams.

Then in 1996, after suffering from a months-long case of walking pneumonia, Gina was tested for HIV. Her positive diagnosis changed the entire perspective of her life in moments. Even those whom she trusted and held close drifted away or looked on with judgment or fear.

“I don’t open up to people very easily about much of anything, except my kids,” says Gina, “because I don’t trust what someone will think about me, or what they will tell someone else I told them in confidence. My close friends have dwindled to very few, but at least I don’t feel I have to watch everything I have to say around those people.”

Just as she began to recover from the impact of her new reality, more tragedy struck Gina.

“In late 1996 I met a man who seemed very sympathetic about my 'positive' situation,” Gina explains. “Unfortunately, at a time when I was just beginning to feel better and my meds were getting a little more under control, (we had) unprotected sex. I got pregnant with twins, a boy and a girl, and had them three months early.”

Unlike with her oldest child, before she had been diagnosed, Gina stayed on her meds throughout the pregnancy. The babies were also treated immediately after they were born. Struggling from complications following the premature delivery, her newest son died at 6-1/2 weeks in her arms one night while she was feeding him a bottle. Just days before, the twins had been tested and both were HIV-negative.

Gina struggled to maintain a sense of normalcy, but the challenges of complications related to HIV, combined with the trauma of losing a child, and the demands of her daily medical regimen, took their toll.

In September of 1996 Gina left work on disability because of adverse reactions to her medications. Due to her foresight in signing up for long term disability through her former employer, she still maintains her benefits for herself and her oldest son. Today, with the advent of improved HIV medications, she is able to take considerably fewer pills with the same positive effects.

Gina got connected with the AIDS Outreach Center for assistance. Two years ago, she was referred to the Genesis Project, a program managed by Samaritan House that provides case management and rental assistance for clients who live in off-site apartments. She had visited Samaritan House for lunch and during appointments with her case manager. From the beginning, she had a positive feeling about the community there.

“The place is always clean, the residents friendly, and the food is unbelievable,” she says. “I’m glad I don’t live (on-site) or I would be huge!”
The rebuilding process when living with HIV is not without its setbacks. Gina is thankful, however, for Genesis coordinator Sue Mahoney and her persistent efforts in keeping Gina focused on a hopeful future.

“The Genesis Program is assisting me in maintaining my independence by helping me pay my rent. Recently, I have had medical bill co-pays accumulate and I was getting behind more and more. By Genesis Program helping me I have been able to catch up on things and not feel so desperate and out of control.”

Since it is difficult for her to depend on her health, Gina volunteers at a local animal shelter instead of taking on a full-time job at this time. She works at the front desk and interacts on occasion with the animals. She also makes time to attend events for her children, now 12 and 7 years old. The rest of her time is occupied with her many checkups and doctor visits.

“At this point, I plan on maintaining just as I am,” she says. “I enjoy what I am doing, it is fulfilling, and gives me great satisfaction. Those things in themselves, I believe, help me keep a positive outlook and keep my T-count (white blood cell count) up and my CD-4 count (viral load in the bloodstream) down!"

Gina is sometimes frustrated by those who do not take advantage of programs such as those provided my Samaritan House to improve their lives and gain control over their own health. “There’s nothing worse than listening to someone complain about what they don’t have just because they want the program to come to them.” She realizes that, despite her many supports, her own future is up to her.

Gina is committed to a long life, filled with promise not only for herself, but for her children who need her and look to her for strength. She is thankful that because of the Genesis project and people like Sue, she does not have to face this struggle alone.