Our Story is Yours

One of TPAN's "Angels," HIV-negative women who gave tireless support to early members, Hannah Hedrick introduced TPA to alternative therapies for managing HIV, including yoga, massage, and t'ai chi. "TPA was on the forefront on accepting holistic approaches,” Hannah recounted recently. Hannah came to the agency when there were no medications for HIV, and few medical professionals who would help. “We created the first directory of physicians who would treat you.”

A director of medical education for the American Medical Association and yoga instructor, Hannah lead twice weekly yoga and t’ai chi classes at the TPA office as well as visiting members at home and during hospital stays. Hannah's classes provided more than physical comfort, “We did a lot of movement, but were a spiritual community. Chris’s motivation was to give people the highest possible quality of life, and you could do that be helping other people. It was never just the HIV. We all brought our challenges and solutions. Someone might relate to your challenge, someone might relate to your solution.”

“It's the self-care and peer-support that really set TPA apart. Being hopeful and being helpful. Those were the two foundational aspects of TPA."

Writing in 2002, Charles shared about his HIV status and his time at TPAN. "It was 16 years ago that I first learned my HIV status. My partner, Antonio, had been sick off and on for months and, as a result, had lost a lot of weight. In April of 1986 he was hospitalized with pneumonia. I remember the exact afternoon, when the doctor came out from examining Tony and told me that Tony had AIDS. He asked about our relationship. I told him that we had been together for eight years. Then the doctor informed me that Tony was going to die from AIDS. And so would I," Clifton wrote.

"Following several bouts of PCP, and after developing Kaposi's sarcoma and dementia, Antonio died at 11:23 a.m. Oct. 8, 1986. AIDS. There was no mono, dual or triple combination therapy. No poverty or malnutrition. No substance use, illegal drugs or 'hedonistic' lifestyle. No alternative therapy. But more importantly, there was no knowledge, an absence of information on the disease and how to treat it. Straight up AIDS. And there we were—alone, confused and scared. What did we know? Zero. Zip. Nada. But I'm still here. Healthy. Drug-free. Take that, doctor know-it-all."

"It wasn't an easy process. I had to take ownership of this disease and educate myself. That took time, energy, and most of all a commitment on my part. Five years ago, I joined the staff of Test Positive Aware Network as the Men of Color HIV/AIDS (MOCHA) Director. Two years later, I became editor of the agency's two HIV treatment journals, Positively Aware and Positively Aware en Espanol. And as of July 1, 2002, I was appointed Executive Director of the organization. Yet I still consider myself a treatment educator and advocate, because you can't survive if you aren't informed."

"I'm grateful that my 'work' not only makes a real difference in my day-to-day existence, but also in the lives of so many unknown people. The struggle against HIV/AIDS, like the civil rights, gay and women's movements, must continue as a collaborative effort. I'm grateful for the many HIV-positive people—from all over the world—who have collaborated on the direction my life has taken over the years."