A Day With HIV

Hospital Corpsman Second Class Le’Mikas Lavender, U.S Navy: Getting ready to man the watch.

Robert W.: “My morning pill, which I’m taking as part of a clinical trial. Each day I remember the people who went before me, took experimental drugs, knocked on the White House door, and called attention to those pushed aside.”

David was born three and a half months premature, weighing two pounds with an HIV viral load of 525,000. “Yes, he is a MIRACLE. He was separated from three siblings who were negative. Their adoptive family didn't want David, because he was positive. His picture says it all. He is my HERO, and at three years old, David has started touching the lives of many. He now has a viral load of 54, and the spirit of an angel. He has taught me and many others valuable lessons already, and I am very, very grateful I was chosen to be his Daddy!” says his adoptive Dad, Brian Walker.

It’s not just our job to take care of HIV patients; it’s a privilege to be part of an extended family. We are the Walgreens on-site HIV specialty pharmacy located inside the Desert AIDS Project.

Rev. Andrena Ingram: “I am a religious leader living openly with HIV. I engage the streets in my HIV shirt at least once a month. Afterward, I have coffee with my daughter, BruShonna Law.”

Gustavo Gimenez: “I work in an allergy lab. At today’s meeting, we went over a case presentation of a patient with a complicated drug allergy. Unfortunately, his treatment options were further complicated because he had vertically transmitted HIV. I wanted to show in this picture that this anonymous case became personal, and that it struck a nerve. While I may never know who this patient is, I would like to wish him the best and show that I care.”

Debra Fehr: “My HIV-negative partner Victor and me, enjoying a beautiful day in our front yard! We’ve been together eight years. It just keeps getting better!”

Lee Raines: “Under the How to Survive a Plague marquee at the IFC Center in New York City with my friends Rita and Jeff. I’m the guy wearing the ‘HIV POSITIVE’ t-shirt. With gratitude to my comrades, my sisters and brothers in ACT UP, and the AIDS activist movement, who taught me how to survive a plague.”

Cassondra Webb: “My niece Dallas’ 18th birthday dinner with the family. This is her girlfriend, Cici, putting on the lock and key necklace she got Dallas. Dallas organized an Equality Walk for her senior project and donated proceeds to Chattanooga Cares. I am in awe of this girl who wants to provide therapy to gay and to HIV at-risk youth who will struggle with the things she’s already struggled with.”