let me tell you about...

Yesterday two of my most delightful patients were in the clinic. We were talking about stuff and I asked them if I could write about them on my blog. Well, they said yes. So let me tell you of my experience with them.
I met the first one on his medical intake. He came to the clinic with the following results on his labs work. He had HIV, Hep C, syphilis and perhaps chlamydia as well. He was giggling and appeared strung out during the visit. He looked malnourished and removed. Hiding behind drugs and with friend that were hiding with him. On arrival I was actually a bit stunned at how removed and disconnected he was from the gravity of his situation. I remember speaking with the other MD about how disturbing it was to see someone so fucked up and so young. It broke our hearts and we had no idea what was to become of him.
After many months his life turned around and I was able to learn about him and his story. He tells his story so much better than i ever could but I will give you a taste.
He comes from a conservative home and town in Utah. While in HS he had a girlfriend and she got pregnant. They thought they were doing the rght thing and had their daughter and actually had another one as well. After some time.. and never having finished HS my client split with his girlfriend and left that scene and got into drugs and sex.. hugely into drugs and sex.. as a way to avoid the pain of his life.
He prceeded to get sick in vague ways and was finally tested for HIV and it was positive. This set him into another spriral of more drugs and sex...more self-destruction.
Somehow he was able to find his way out of his darkness and seek help. I cant really tell you the specifics becsaue they don't really matter. What matteres is that he was able to overcome all his "stuff", get clean, find the true meaning of his life. He is reconnected with his daughters. His Hep C is gone. His HIV is completley controlled. He had gone back to school (he is in his 30s).
He had chosen to help others deal with the same pains that he had dealt with. He is a star. He is magic and I am so proud to have wittnessed this transformation.
He has a wonderful partner that has a kind of simular story. A delightful person who felt like he did not fit in. Always tring to get others to like him.. to want him and this led him to behaviors that led to his HIV diagnosis. He too is clean and also helping others. He has a smile and an energy that speeds up my heart ever time I see him.
These two men.. both with pain as teenagers that led they astray. They did nothing wrong. They had pain and were lookinig for comfort.
I think they have found that comfort now and it is a joy to watch them thrive and grow and love.
I thank them for all that they do every day and I thank them for allowing me to be a wittness to their story.
and I told Jonathon I would say his name. Jonathon Berg. So there!
I love you guys. you make my life better and you make my job have deep meaning and you feed my soul.