The Journey Back from 3 T Cells

Surviving and thriving with an HIV diagnosis takes more than medicine. Longtime Atlanta resident Dee Dee Chamblee is the perfect example of will, perseverance and self-esteem. She bounced back from drug use, sex work, jail time and living with only 3 T cells to a healthy, happy life and is the founder of LaGender, a prominent Atlanta transadvocacy group. Dee Dee was recently profiled by thebody.com as part of their This Positive Life series.

“I was diagnosed 25 years ago, in 1987. And it was during the time when I was expecting it,” Dee Dee begins. “There were people dying all around me. We couldn't even keep up with the people that were dead.”

“You know, it was like a Holocaust. And it was a tragedy. We had no counseling to get through it. And so, when I became positive, I kind of denied it, went into denial for, like, seven years. Did drugs, alcohol, prostituted, and did the whole realm. And, really, literally was trying to kill myself; because that's the way it seemed that the world wanted me to just disappear. Nobody wanted to look at me. People were very discriminatory towards transgenders, as far as getting jobs and stuff like that. So my only choice was to prostitute at that time.”

“Once I found out, and after the seven years of denial, I realized that I hadn't went nowhere. So I decided I better brush the dirt off of me and kick the flowers to the side -- that the funeral is not going to be held, it doesn't seem. So I got up and I started trying to find me a support group, someone that could help me love myself again.”

With the help of Common Ground, Dee Dee did survive and flourish. She now runs a support group for transgenders in the prison, counsels young people, and is an advocate for transgender rights in the city, among other things. “We have to build an exterior to be able to withstand what we have to go through,” she states.

Dee Dee offers this advice to others: “Go to the doctor. See about yourself. Love yourself. And start on a new path, with new boundaries that you set for yourself in your new life that you're starting to live. Don't look at it as a curse. Look at it as: It has opened your eyes that you should not live the way that you live in order to contract this disease, and that "I need to live a healthier lifestyle for myself, because I can today. Today I have more opportunities that I can go about it and do it the right way, and come out and be a success story."

HIV Patients Desire More Dialogue with Doctors

HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy are very involved in engaging with their healthcare providers in the management of their HIV a new survey shows. The results were published in the Wall Street Journal and noted that 300 people living with HIV were surveyed online from across the country and 97% said that they are proactive about managing their HIV condition, including drug treatment.

Three out of four participants did say they would like to spend more time discussing their concerns with their doctor – specifically HIV drug treatment and the impact of HIV on their lives. The survey also showed that most respondents were active about managing their HIV, from scheduling doctor appointments to discussing treatment options with their doctor and researching HIV topics.

“The results of this survey are very encouraging, however they underscore the need for more in-depth discussions between people living with HIV and their doctors - not only regarding their treatment regimens, but also how the disease is affecting their lives overall," said Dr. Michael Gottlieb, Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA. "Communication between healthcare providers and patients is the cornerstone of developing and maintaining a successful HIV treatment plan."

Some of the topics patients would like to discuss include: how their current HIV drug treatment regimen is working, other HIV treatment options, health conditions other than HIV and side effects of their current HIV medicine.

People living with HIV and taking antiretroviral medications are encouraged to speak with their doctor about HIV and their concerns. Preparing topics and questions ahead of an appointment and prioritizing those questions can be useful tools to improve communication with your doctor.

HIV Care Continuum Initiative

by AID Atlanta's Interim Executive Director Cathy Woolard In recent weeks, President Obama and HHS Secretary Sebelius have made major statements about the Administration’s HIV/AIDS strategy.  Nationally the number of total new infections has remained relatively stable at around 50,000 people annually, while the number of people living with HIV infection has increased.  This is a reflection of the impact of accumulated years of improvements in medical care as well as better systems of outreach and education regarding the importance of early diagnosis and adherence to treatment. Implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) should help make those numbers even better as more people will have access to insurance and the essential benefits that come from being insured.  Since the Affordable Care Act prohibits discrimination based on preexisting conditions and eliminates lifetime caps on medical expenditures, we hope to see more people with HIV getting into care early and staying connected over the course of their lives. But we still face challenges in the South.  Poverty, racism, stigma and discrimination all play a role in higher rates of transmission in the South.  These are not easy issues to confront or overcome and we have to work extra hard to stay ahead of the curve. The rates of HIV transmission among women and young men of color are significantly worse than other regions of the country.  We must learn, advocate and innovate to change the conditions that make our part of the country at such high risk for poor outcomes. Read more...

SHARE Project at PRIDE!

We had a great time at PRIDE - thank you to everyone who stopped to visit us!

Upcoming Event: AIDS Walk

The annual AIDS Walk helps raise critically needed funds for Positive Impact. Last year, Team Impact (the agency's fundraising team for the AIDS Walk) raised over $93,000 for the agency. In 2011, Team Impact raised just over $70,000!

This year, Team Impact has a goal of $100,000. To reach that goal, Positive Impact is asking every teammate to challenge themselves, and to get a friend to join the team.

To register as a member of Team Impact and begin raising funds, please click here and select "Join Our Team". Once you've registered, please be sure that you have selected Positive Impact as your team. (Should you encounter errors, please contact Michael Baker, Director of Advancement via email or 404-589-9040 Ext 115.)

Remember: 100% of the funds you raise will go directly to support the work of Positive Impact! Even if you cannot join the Walk on October 20, you STILL can help raise funds! Please consider joining Team Impact, and help us continue our good work.

For questions about the AIDS Walk or Team Impact, please contact Michael Baker, Director of Advancement, via email or by calling 404-589-9040.

Event date and time
October 20 

AIDS Walk 2013 will be held on Sunday, October 20th at Piedmont Park.

Run Starts @ 1:45 pm

Walk Starts @ 2:00 pm

Location
Piedmont Park
Atlanta, GA 30309 USA