Program Three - "Care"

"We have patients who know more than I will. They come in with articles that aren't even out in the regular magazines." - Kara Laine Barrett, nurse and research coordinator.

"Making people laugh is as valuable or more valuable than making people swallow pills. I know my doctor's going to hate me for [saying] that" - Peter Canavan, RN and living with HIV.

One in three Americans know someone infected with HIV. "Care," program three of the four-part series POSITIVE: LIFE WITH HIV, looks at the many different ways people are approaching care, treatment, and death emotionally and physically. Told from the dual perspective of those living with HIV and those who treat and care for them, this program highlights examples of the care available to some, while noting that those with HIV often must become their own self-taught experts.

Chorus: (in order of appearance)

Jerry Rosanbalm, Jon Read, Marina Alvarez, Devi Glazier, LeBaron Moseby, Brenda Salters, Gregg Bordowitz, Shanti Santana, Christopher Miller, Greg Payton, Peter Canavan, Dr. Howard Grossman, Eleanor Mitchell, Beverly Rotter, Richard Flovich, Marie St. Cyr, Elena Schwolsky-Fitch, Francis Blacklock, Julie Pecaroni, Alice Terson

Nalty Killeen
Writer: Nalty Killeen
Director: Chuck London
Producer: John Traynor

Self-described CWA ("comedian with AIDS") Nalty Killeen shares his views on health care as he performs at one of his favorite local nightspots. "Now they're recommending mega doses of vitamin C and beta carotene," says Nalty. "I'm working on my own: one Barney, three Wilmas and five Dinos." [Note: Nalty Killeen died in 1995.]

Grady Infectious Disease Program
Producer/Director: Cheryl Chisholm
Co-director: Juanita Anderson

At Atlanta's Grady Infectious Disease Program, "care, not medicine" ,is what is most important. "We see ourselves as partners. We're not here to do things to them; we re here to work with them," says nurse manager Carla Johnson of the Atlanta-based facility that has changed its approach to meet the needs of its changing patient population - and the care of its own care-providers.

Sometimes My Feet Go Numb
Written by Wayne Corbitt
Producer/Director: Lourdes Portillo

Poet Wayne Corbitt shares a moving perspective on the pain often encountered by persons living with HIV-related illnesses.

Viviana Martinez
Producer/Director: Fran Rzeznik

22-year-old Viviana Martinez of Los Angeles is HIV positive and lives with her young child Natalia (also infected) at Casa Madonna, a residence for women who are HIV positive. Although young herself, Viviana is vigilant regarding Natalia's treatment and won't allow her daughter to be treated in ways Viviana doesn't understand. But, it's an uphill struggle. "I don't think I'm a bad mother. I don't think I'm a perfect mother. I do what I can do, and that's all I can do."

Traditional Chinese Medicine
Producer/Director: Stacey Foiles

At the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in San Francisco and the Institute for Traditional Medicine in Portland, Oregon, certified practitioners are applying principles of Chinese medicine and alternative healing techniques to the treatment and research of HIV/AIDS.

Patrick Mangan
Producer/Director: Gregg Bordowitz

Patrick Mangan takes planning and organization quite seriously. The Queens New York, resident keeps a large black bag neatly containing all of his medical and financial files. Patrick has color-coded his possessions, clearly designating the object's inheritor. Suits of various sizes hang in his closet ready for use at his funeral. "I would rather wear something of my own, Patrick says, "than for [my family] to have to go out and buy or borrow somebody else's suit. I wear my own clothes now and I'd like to wear my own clothes when I leave."

Mary, Sinead, and Jennifer
Producer/Director: Veronica Selver

Fifteen year-old Sinead and her mother Mary, who is increasingly feeling the effects of AIDS, begin to prepare for Sinead's life in the event of Mary's death. Few states allow co-guardianship before the death of a parent, however Mary is determined to decide how her daughter will be taken care of after she is gone. "I've just watched people die really fast and I don't want to be caught up in trying to get this done on top of being sick," Mary says. "You know, I think as time progresses we're going to see a lot more children in Sinead's situation and we better do something about getting those kids some help."

Also featured:

Queer and Loathing with David Feinberg
Animator: Dean Kendrick

Scattered throughout the POSITIVE series are animated excerpts from Queer and Loathing (Viking Penguin), David Feinberg's humorously cynical lamentations on living with HIV. Community's excerpts look at disclosure. Feinberg provides the narration on these segments, completed before the author's death from AIDS.

Tips from Tab Lloyd
Writer/Producer: Richard Cardran, a.k.a. Tab Lloyd

Throughout the series, "Tab Lloyd" offers advice ranging from the practical to the hysterical. Community's tips center on "social worker protocol."

David Rousseve and Reality
Producer/Director: Ayoka Chenzira

Throughout the series, choreographer/dancer David Rousseve and members of his company. Reality. provide moving testimony to the strengths and needs of living with the epidemic.