When the Seek and Treat for Optimal Prevention (STOP) of HIV/AIDS program found Ross in 2012, he was HIV positive and his immune system was seriously damaged. In addition, the 40 year old struggled with severe opioid and methamphetamine addiction.
Under VCH, the STOP Outreach Team supported Ross in getting into three different residences and placed in several shelters. However, he faced multiple evictions and incarcerations. He was connected to the John Ruedy Immunodeficiency Clinic at St. Paul’s Hospital. There, he re-started methadone treatment and became engaged in his medical care.
The turning point
A turning point came this year, when Ross became stabilized at Harbourlight, a detox centre, after many failed attempts at detox over the years. He then restarted on antiretroviral medications and was transferred to a treatment centre. He eventually left the treatment centre after facing stigma and abuse due to his HIV status. The STOP staff supported and encouraged Ross to reintegrate into the centre. He returned and completed his treatment program before moving into a recovery house.
“Having a team to find him in the community and connect him with the clinic, really made the difference. He wasn’t able to do that independently at that point in his life, he required outreach to accompany him to connect to various community resources,” says Lesa Dumsha, a STOP Team outreach nurse. “It was being there for him continuously over the years. We provided a great deal of harm reduction and emotional support. It’s remarkable how far he has come.”
“In Ross’s state at the time, we were very concerned that he would die from AIDS-related causes, an overdose or getting hit by a car as he was often very intoxicated,” she continues. “He is one of our greatest success stories – and likely the most improved person that the STOP Team has ever worked with. He has proven that even those who seem to have such little hope at life can still make remarkable changes. Seeing his turn around provides us with hope for others whose situation currently seems very grim.”