Gerald was in his late fifties and had been living with HIV for about six years. He was depressed and appeared frail and very afraid.
Their first consultation was a very long two hours. They talked at great length. Panos helped him to sort all of the issues that were creating such a mess in his head, and to look at them more clearly.
Gerald made the decision, then and there, that he was going to tell his family.
He asked Panos to drive him to his daughter’s home.
Gerald returned with his daughter the next day. He had broken the news. At first she was a little alarmed, but after talking with her about HIV and its management, she became much more relieved.
Opening up about his sexuality and his HIV status brought Gerald and his daughter closer.
Together they planned the next stages of his ‘coming out’ to the rest of the family. This has since happened with great acceptance and success.
Panos found this experience both a moving and empowering one; enabled by the services that his organisation provide to the community and their links to the clinic where Gerald is treated.
They have met quite a few times since his first visit and he is doing well, surrounded by his supportive and loving Aboriginal family.
Panos Couros is the Men’s Health Coordinator for the NT AIDS and Hepatitis Council in Darwin. Call him on (08) 8944 7777. You can ‘like’ NTAHC on facebook.
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