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Maurice's

Despite ill health and misfortunes I am once again in front of the computer engaging in my love/hate relationship with key board and paper to bring you my personal slant on a number of important topics.
Accidents
If you are going to have an accident it is better to arrive at the Casualty Unit on a stretcher, preferably unconscious. By this means you are likely to be seen to straight away and being comatose makes time pass more quickly. I was’nt so lucky. It was a dull Wednesday morning when I stumbled and fell on my way to the post office.. The weight of my fall was taken by my left hand. In quick succession my right knee, right hand and right cheek hit the ground. I was stunned but not unconscious. Only when I was putting on my glasses inside the post office did I realise there was blood running down the side of my face. Back home I cleaned up my gashed right cheek, and having made sure everything moved and no bones were sticking out, I was quite content to leave it at that and let Nature take its course. It was with great reluctance that I was eventually persuaded to go to see my GP. He said that I ought to have X rays for a suspected fracture. “Oh no!” I groaned, thinking of an eternal wait, I am sure my GP honestly believed that, armed with his letter, I would be sent straight to X-ray. Regretfully, he was wrong and it wasn’t until 7.OOpm in the evening that I was able to leave knowing that I had a broken elbow and with an appointment for the fracture clinic the following day.
My acupuncturist related a similar experience when she broke her elbow causing excruciating pain. She was unable even to sit down because the slightest movement brought such agony. The severity of her condition alerted the triage nurse to take immediate action. Her arm was put in plaster, X-rayed, the damage assessed and treatment was started all in rapid succession. What wonderful place was this? None other than the same accident unit I had spent an entire day, waiting around for attention. When did she receive such first class treatment? Apparently it happened five years ago at a time when the Emergency & Accident unit was experimenting with consultant cover 24 hours a day. The scheme was so successful that the accident unit was filmed for a BBC documentary. She wasn’t certain exactly sure why this example of excellence was dropped, but believed it was a matter of cost.
Nail Bombings
No doubt you had feelings like my own of being gutted at the inhuman acts perpetrated upon innocent victims in the London nail bombings. Our article on page 9 covers the events. I would only add, that out of this all this senseless carnage, perhaps the one good thing which might emerge is a realisation of the extent to which prejudice and hatred exists within our community.
Feedback & contributions
The response of readers following the last edition of “Positive Live” was truly amazing. No sooner had the paper been mailed out than the phone rang with compliments for a punchy edition which made some of the national journals seem pale and timid by comparison. Even more rewarding was the fact that many readers had taken the time and trouble to send in messages, letters and contributions for this present issue. This kind of response validates the importance of the newsletter, and gives an enormous boost of encouragement to the Newsletter team. So thank you everyone for your complements but a bigger thank you still for influencing the content and tone of this and hopefully future editions.
BP Staffordshire is finding its feet and is beginning to acquire a purposeful identity. Its first anniversary was marked with a short meeting and an enjoyable, mini feast prepared by Andrew R. Despite the small turn out (partly on account of people being ill) everyone felt the evening to have been worthwhile and expressed a desire to have another meeting in June.
Apart from sharing experiences after one year with HAART, everyone had a chance to say how they felt about:

	taking the drugs,
	treatment by professionals
	fitting medication with life style and adapting life style to fit taking medication
	state of well being
	future hopes, and directions

In fact people had a chance to say what was on their minds and to talk about life with HIV in general.
BP Staffs has affirmed its role as a self help group for the mutual benefit and support of its members. It has declared an open door policy (any HIV+ person can attend meetings.) It accepts and welcomes the administrative and financial role played by Staffordshire Buddies and desires to extend a helping hand to anyone who needs one within our HIV+ community.
To return to my opening statement about misfortune and ill health, the BP meeting flagged up problems of well being that continue despite good clinical results. For some the only option seems a “drug holiday” and their right to do so should be respected. However, a London reader has asked me to pass on a word of caution. When the effects of HAART becoming unbearable he opted to take a “drug holiday”. Once off the drugs he felt fantastic but was horrified to be told that not only were his latest results bad, but that he had become resistant to all of the currently available anti-HIV drugs. A night mare scenario!
As for myself, I have to admit that after my multiple injuries accident, I have recovered in remarkable quick time. Which means that no matter how bad I may be feeling, my immune system would appear to be functioning well.
Summer Break
“Positive Lives” will be following the example of other publications by taking a summer holiday. The next edition will be in September. This gives the editorial panel and the volunteers who help with the mailing a chance to take a break and it gives you the opportunity to determine the tone of the next edition by sprinkling us with a similar shower of response to the one which has refreshed this edition.
Goodbye to Andrew
In conclusion I want to say something about Andrew’s departure from Staffordshire Buddies. Andrew has always been a truly dedicated man but he has come to mean more to me than a colleague, a counsellor or healthcare professional. In the time I have had the privilege of knowing him, he has become a very cherished friend, and I know I am going to miss him very much. I am sure, like me you will want to wish him every success in whatever he decides to do. But there is plenty of time to do this as he won’t be clearing his desk until October.
I look forward to writing for you again in the Autumn, meanwhile lets all get ready for a nice summer holiday.

Take care of yourselves,  

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