In his fifty-fifth year, “Danny” was going blind. He had nerve damage in one eye and retina damage in the other due to an infection common in people with weak immune systems.
Danny is very open, positive and sunny. You can see him here in this photo with Siempre Unidos staffer Yolany as she is checking on him. You can feel his optimism in the reflections he shares:
“I used to always put on a red shirt because I look better in red… I was always happy. Now I can’t play soccer with the children or do exercise or dance because I could fall! [Laughs]…But I have faith in God that I am going to improve. The medications for my eyes haven’t helped. I take a lot of herbal medications, especially garlic. I eat a lot of garlic. But I didn’t eat any before coming to the clinic.”
He goes on to describe his profession. “I was a school teacher. I was afraid of being discriminated against and so I left. At first I didn’t want to take medications…but a doctor convinced me not to abandon treatment.”
We saw Danny last July when he was completely blind and doing poorly on his antiretroviral medications, despite his high compliance. He was put on rescue medications donated by a U.S. nonprofit that collects unused, unopened, unexpired medications.
We recently received good news. Danny is responding well to the rescue medications and can now see objects at a distance of 27 inches. The teacher can now read large print, and hopefully, dance.
