HIV has tried to take so much from Guadalupe.
Her first husband died from the virus many years ago. Then, 5 years ago, when her T-cell count was low, an opportunistic infection caused her to have a stroke. She lost her voice, some dexterity in her hands and some strength and balance in her legs.
Yet, Guadalupe’s spirit has remained strong. Smiles come quickly. Her eyes dance. And her legs, which are regaining strength, carry her on walks of several miles. She even helps serve others in her church kitchen.
This is a far cry from a year ago, when it looked like HIV might soon take Guadalupe’s life. She was struggling, feeling isolated. Despite using FUZEON, her regimen was not working, and her weight was down to as little as 70 pounds.
Then Joyce and other volunteers from ACTION (AIDS Care Teams in Our Neighborhoods) stepped in. They spent time with Guadalupe, accompanied her to doctor’s appointments, spoke for her and even found a new apartment for her.
They also all learned how to inject FUZEON, thanks to Nurse Connections™.
“For a year and a half, Guadalupe had been struggling to inject because of her stroke,” says the FUZEON Nurse Educator who worked with Guadalupe. “She could only inject into her abdomen and not at the right angle. As a result, her stomach was covered with knotty injection site reactions (ISRs).”
Because of the difficulty she was having with the injections, FUZEON was not working well for Guadalupe. “Just thinking about injecting was painful,” she recalls, typing out her comments. “It was too much to handle.”
With the Nurse Educator’s help, Guadalupe and her team learned how to administer FUZEON, including rotating the sites. It wasn’t easy. “I’d given injections before, but this was different,” says Joyce, tears coming to her eyes. “I didn’t want to physically cause her any more discomfort. She suffered so much.”
But they learned as a team and, ultimately, the ISRs that had been on her stomach disappeared and FUZEON began to make a difference.
Guadalupe (or G.G., as her friends call her) gained weight. She also gained strength to walk more, and she was fitted with a brace for balance. She now goes out dancing and to the movies.
G.G. also cooks tantalizing Mexican meals. The aromas of fresh salsa and sizzling fajitas waft from her kitchen.
And she has lived to hold her young grandson. “He’s handsome,” brags the proud abuela (grandmother).
“Now I have so much energy,” G.G. types. “Now I am undetectable.” Her eyes light up. A smile covers her face, and she claps.
No other words are needed.