Thread by @elaine_patten

Reflections on #WorldAIDSDay2022

They were not good times @danielgoyal, the fear & prejudice these poor souls endured, even from healthcare workers, was huge. Media coverage of the epidemic was shocking & very judgmental. 1/9

My son was a toddler & my Mum was really concerned I could put him at risk, I can still remember telling her I was nursing them not sleeping with them!

At its worst I was working on a small purpose built Infectious Disease Unit situated away from other wards & departments. 2/9

We had six single rooms with an entrance area for gowning & masking up. The room had an independent air supply. These patients were shut away from everyone, this really didn’t help dispel the fear of the disease & made their last days very lonely ones indeed. 3/9

Young patients started arriving, mostly male, but I did nurse several females too. I can remember so many of their names & that’s not something I can say about other areas I have worked in. We got to know them & their loved ones so well, 4/9

they were absolutely terrified & needed so much psychological support, as well as physical care. Each admission showed further deterioration, they were becoming skeletal in front of our eyes. 5/9

I had so many difficult conversations with partners who couldn’t accept their loved ones were dying, they were far too young, in those days DNR’s were not routinely discussed. We become part of their circle, I became too close to too many of them & it took its effect on me. 6/9

I had never put so many young people in body bags or attended so many funerals. They were truly heartbreaking times &, until Covid, I thought I would never experience such horror & sadness again. 7/9

I’m so thankful I worked with such a fantastic bunch of nurses, we laughed, cried & ranted together & I remain in touch with many of them. I know now we were traumatised too.

The experience finally broke me & I left the hospital to work as a School Nurse for a few years. 8/9

My experience was not wasted there & I took part in educating teachers about the disease, helping, I hope, to dispel the myths.

I bounced back though & it made me the person I am today. I am proud to know I made a difference to so many. End/ #WorldAIDSDay2022

#WorldAIDSDay2022

What I forgot to add is that have a red ribbon tattooed on the left cheek of my bottom. One of my patients dragged me into the tattoo parlour with him & we had them done together. I’ll carry them with me always. #WorldAIDSDay2022