My dear friends, many months ago I shared a story about a phenomenal woman who smiled her way into my heart in 2009. She was the first person to comment on my blog when created in 2012. When we hugged goodbye in 2011, she promised to attend my wedding. Lorna Hamilton Henry – the force behind Mothers2Mothers TNT. Selfless, giving, loving…
My dear Lorna is now resting with the angels. Tonight I have no words. I loved her. I will never ever forget her. Her mission lives on. The least I can do is continue to share her story. Please help me to pay tribute to this Christian warrior by sharing her story, checking perceptions and helping friends and loved ones who live and continue to fight discrimination against Persons Living with HIV/AIDS.
In Lorna’s words: “… When I go out to speak I tell people we are just that – people. People living with a disease but we have the same hopes and dreams as anyone else. I tell them discrimination is a form of murder. You may not have stabbed me or shot me but the stress you induce can cause me to deteriorate and die.” I pray God’s comfort for her grieving family.
Yesterday was World AIDS Day. How many of you knew that? It was also a reminder of a journey I started just over three (3) years ago. You see, in 2009 I met an amazing lady. Beautiful, amazing, loving and HIV+. The first time we met, I was curious and cautious. By our third meeting, I was ashamed. Ashamed at myself for adding to her pain with my discriminatory attitude. I was forever changed. Last year as we hugged goodbye, she promised to attend my wedding.
In May of this year, I asked my friend to share a bit of her story with readers. No one can tell it like she can. To her it is not just a story. It is life. Here’s a bit of what my Lorna had to say…
“I am Lorna Hamilton-Henry. I am part of an unusual couple. I have three lovely, healthy children. I have been living with HIV for 15 years or so. I contracted HIV at a young age before I met my husband but only found out after a month of being married. At just the rumour of my status, my husband and I were put out from where we lived at my mother. They all thought I could give them tuberculosis if I lived in the
The beautiful Lorna
same space, so we were forced to leave. My husband lost everything because of my status. He lost friends and because our income was based on his trade he lost customers, so HIV took a lot from us. Our first two children were denied their right to education by being refused admission to a school close to where we lived. We then had to send them to one outside of the area. This was difficult because we could not afford it…”
“… When I go out to speak I tell people we are just that – people. People living with a disease but we have the same hopes and dreams as anyone else. I tell them discrimination is a form of murder. You may not have stabbed me or shot me but the stress you induce can cause me to deteriorate and die.”
When I started the story I said Lorna was HIV+. Full-stop. Well Lorna has removed the full-stop and replaced it with a comma. She is a Christian, daughter, wife, mother and woman living with HIV. Lorna has chosen to let her status define her as an outspoken activist, champion and winner against stigma and discrimination. Her cheerful personality and loving nature forces you to stop and think before you draw away. She has used her experiences to change lives in her native Trinidad & Tobago and across the wider Caribbean. Trust me, I know. I was fortunate enough to help her write a letter to the Prime Minister several years ago.
Although the Caribbean accounts for a relatively small share of the global epidemic, its HIV prevalence among adults is about 1.0% which is higher than in all other regions outside sub-Saharan Africa (UNAIDS).
Recently Lorna started an NGO called Mothers2Mothers (Trinidad and Tobago). The mission of the organisation is to create an effective, sustainable model of care that provides education and support for pregnant women and new mothers living with HIV and AIDS in Trinidad and Tobago.
In Lorna’s words, “It is aimed at providing a form of support that is much needed if we are to have all babies born HIV negative by 2015. As a mother with HIV and having experienced the bad treatment at the health facilities, even though doctors and nurses are suppose to know better, I saw the need for this kind of support. I also intend to go into the health facilities, if allowed, to encourage mothers to get tested. If found HIV+ I intend to give them the support they need to take care of themselves and their babies. Mothers who are already HIV positive will get support too and can be mentor mothers so they can support others like themselves and take care of some of their financial needs”.
When you’re done, watch the video below to meet Lorna in person. To hear her voice, see her face and know she is alive, well and beautiful as always. It was filmed by Caribbean Multimedia Artist, Elspeth Duncan, a dear friend. We were working on a project for the Trinidad & Tobago Coalition on the Rights of the Child (TTCRC), headed by the wonderful Gregory Sloane-Seale (TEDx Port of Spain speaker – tell you more later!). This NGO is another precious part of my life.
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Here’s an informative video by the Gleaner of Children’s Advocate (Jamaica) – Diahann Gordon Harrison – speaking on the rights of children living with HIV/AIDS. Share the information!
There is an old adage that says “actions speak louder than words” and there is also the saying that “a picture is worth a thousand words”. It is with this premise that I share today’s two (2) videos with you as I continue to place the spotlight on discrimination against PLWHA (Persons living with HIV/AIDS). Before viewing, think of these words. This picture was taken of a patch of sand on the beach several months ago. Ordinarily sand is appreciated for many properties, most of all for its rightful place on a beach. However as you look at this picture, a thing of beauty emerges and it is no longer just sand, but a piece of art. It is all about perspective. I hope that these videos help shape your perspective and attitude towards PLWHA. They were created by videographer Elspeth Duncan for the NGO – Trinidad & Tobago Coalition on the Rights of the Child (TTCRC). I would love to hear of your thoughts and feelings. As for me, it just makes me sad.
Meet Lorna – daughter, wife, mother and woman living with HIV. Lorna has chosen to let her status define her as an outspoken activist, champion and winner against stigma and discrimination. Her cheerful personality and loving nature forces you to stop and think before you draw away. She has been using her experiences to change lives in her native Trinidad & Tobago and across the wider Caribbean.
Join Lorna as she shares how HIV changed her life.
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From Guest Feature:
Life With HIV
I am Lorna Hamilton-Henry. I am part of an unusual couple. I have three lovely, healthy children. I have been living with HIV for 15 years or so. I contracted HIV at a young age before I met my husband but only found out after a month of being married. At just the rumour of my status, my husband and I were put out from where we lived at my mother. They all thought I could give them tuberculosis if I lived in the same space, so we were forced to leave. My husband lost everything because of my status. He lost friends and because our income was based on his trade he lost customers, so HIV took a lot from us. Our first two children were denied their right to education by being refused admission to a school close to where we lived. We then had to send them to one outside of the area. This was difficult because we could not afford it.
The first time my children were discriminated against, I went public. I knew that I must set the correct example for them and try to put the correct information out so that other persons who were afraid to speak out or stand up would not have to face the same treatment. It was also a way to support my family because we needed the money this would bring in to survive. HIV has caused many people to live in poverty because you are no longer allowed to enjoy your basic rights. As a person living with this disease your rights are infringed upon time and time again.
When I go out to speak I tell people we are just that – people. People living with a disease but we have the same hopes and dreams as anyone else. I tell them discrimination is a form of murder. You may not have stabbed me or shot me but the stress you induce can cause me to deteriorate and die.
I thank God for His grace and His mercy. I thank him because He does not see me as others do. He loves me regardless and keeps me. Without my faith in God I don’t know what I would have done. Through His word I could face all that having HIV has brought with it. He provides because we still need help to survive financially to send our kids to school. His word comforts me so much because when I am having a bad day, be it discrimination or a side effect from the medication, I just pray and I can feel him there loving me through it. Without my faith in God I am sure I would have been dead a long time ago and I would not have my three healthy children today. People advised me not to have the last baby because she could contract HIV, but God showed up as usual and she is perfectly healthy. For some time I was scared because I was so sick during that pregnancy. I spent many days at the hospital but at birth they were able to say she did not contract HIV.
Recently, I started an NGO called Mothers2Mothers (Trinidad and Tobago). It is aimed at providing a form of support that is much needed if we are to have all babies born HIV negative by 2015. As a mother with HIV and having experienced the bad treatment at the health facilities, even though doctors and nurses are suppose to know better, I saw the need for this kind of support. I also intend to go into the health facilities, if allowed, to encourage mothers to get tested. If found HIV+ I intend to give them the support they need to take care of themselves and their babies. Mothers who are already HIV positive will get support too and can be mentor mothers so they can support others like themselves and take care of some of their financial needs.
We are unable to give them a salary but what we give them will help. I really believe this will help in the fight to have all babies HIV free because everyone really needs someone and it is better to be a part of the solution rather than the problem. I have already helped two mothers and they are so grateful for Mothersm2Mothers TT, so I guess I am now a grandmother. I now have two children underneath my NGO and they have become part of my family. I am not only setting an example for my children who I will train to live healthy lives and make the right decisions but I am setting an example for the world and showing everyone there is life after HIV and you have to make the change you want to see. Be the change.
Mothers2Mothers is about empower women to empower each other, building relationships as we will deal with the husbands or boyfriends as well. We will help them to take care of their families as many mothers are left alone after finding out their status. It is also about training these mothers to talk with their children, encouraging them to live healthy lives, especially given that we must fight for so much.
I am doing this because when I was sick and sent home to die, God said to me that it is not my time yet. I promised God that if He should bring me through this, I would help others understand. Sometimes the fight is hard and I feel like giving up but then I remember where He brought me from and how He has kept me ever since. If more people like me don’t speak out how will change come?
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