Seema

We are in our swish new set up at Jeevan Sahara Kendra.

But the issues that our friends are dealing with have not evapourated since we moved up in the world.

We are still working with people who are at the margins, at the very edges of themselves.

A woman - we will call her Seema - has been in touch with us for the past few years.

We got to know her when her Aunt - a widow to AIDS. Seema's Aunt was HIV positive hersefl - and we looked after her son whom she lost to HIV and cancer in his leg.

A few months later came the devastating news that Seema herself had HIV - most probably from Manoj - the man she had eloped with.

Its been a long journey with this family.

Manoj lost his parents young and grew up in an almost feral atmosphere. He is a likeable person - but does not seem to be able to care for his children. He is a driver which means he has odd hours . They frequently shift homes. Seema returns periodically to her parents home. At times her parents have looked after their children. For a year her 5 year old son was sent to a hostel. He has been back for the past few months - but Seema and Manoj feel they cannot care for him - and are sending him away again.

For the past month Seema has been bleeding. We think she may have had an abortion - though she denies it when we have probed. Our team have been trying to help Seema get a family planning operation - but the couple have kept postponing.

Our staff went with Seema to the govt. hospital this morning to get an opinion on surgery for Seema. Being HIV positive is a specific cross to carry when you want health care - even where health care is available. They were back before 11 AM.

Seema and her two kids were in our gleaming halls. Her son was rolling on the ground crying. She looked at him with her small eyes.

Then she went in to talk to Sheba. Our nurse was with the children.

Gleaming walls don't touch hearts. The process of walking together with our HIV positive friends continues.