Matching their courage. Care.

In this article, a physician working at Harlem Hospital in New York City describes how she awaited her Friday clinic with trepidation 10 years ago but now awaits it with eagerness inspired by her patients. To illustrate this phenomenon, she introduces several of her patients. First is Mary Ann who has multiple health problems compounded by AIDS and never misses a single dose of her medications, although the list of drugs she takes extends to two single-spaced pages. Next is Rochelle, a 36-year-old grandmother who transformed herself from a homeless drug addict when she learned she had AIDS. Then there is Jackie, whose fear sparked such irrational behavior that she caused commotions when she was in the waiting room. Jackie had to put AIDS treatment on hold to combat multiple drug-resistant tuberculosis yet she never missed a dose of medication. Another patient is Gardenia, who blames her young son's death not on AIDS but on his medication and who always has an excuse for not taking her medication. Lester has been drug-free for 102 days and asks tough, intelligent questions about the efficacy of his proposed treatment. Hermine arrives with a notebook stuffed with clippings and information she has gathered from a variety of sources because she is afraid of missing out on the newest magic drug. These patients are similar to other HIV/AIDS patients in that they encounter the same pain, frailties, and doubts, but they are individually distinct in the way that HIV/AIDS has transformed their lives and given them the courage to face daunting odds. This courage should be matched by a commitment on the part of physicians to understand current treatments and address key questions about treatment effectiveness.