In the summer of 2006, I was a patient in the Infusion Center. This was a dark and difficult time in my life. After ten years of living in my own apartment in San Francisco, I had to move back in with my family in Sonoma County for care. I was also dealing with an HIV diagnosis that I was hiding from my family and that I was very ashamed of. I was spending so much energy beating myself up about HIV, and hiding it from my concerned family, that it was affecting my chemo for recovery.

Recognizing this, Laurie took the time out to personally talk with me about my fears. She spent time with me above and beyond her duties and helped me find the strength and resolve to come out to my family about my HIV status. They treated me with compassion and forgiveness which enabled me to finally forgive myself.

My life opened up after this. I am now healthy and recovered, and am graduating as an RN from UCSF next month inspired by Laurie’s infusion center nursing. I facilitate support groups for newly diagnosed people with HIV to give back and am going on to get a Masters as a Nurse Practitioner in HIV. I am so grateful to Laurie Mathers. She changed my life. She is an example of the difference a nurse can make.