19 January 2008.

That evening, a group of people, 19 in total, gathered in a house somewhere in Seremban 2. Eight (including me) are from Seremban, 1 from Manipur India but based in Chiang Mai, Thailand (affiliated to HDN), another from one of the South Pacific Islands (affliated to The 7 Sisters) and 9 others from KLASS.

The people present were as different as fire and ice, East from West, Heaven and Hell…

There were

Ex/Current-drug addicts.

MSMs.

Couples.

Volunteers.

Different ages.

Different races.

Different religions and beliefs.

Physician (me la)

But we have one thing in common: HIV and AIDS.

That meeting marked the beginning of the support group for PLWHA (People Living with HIV and AIDS) in Seremban, something that I’ve dreamt of and worked hard at getting off the ground for the last one year.

Like any new beginnings. It was awkward. A couple who promised to come did not show up. Conversations were hard to initiate. People were suspicious or shy. Some spoke only Chinese. Others only Malay. Sharing was tough.

You must understand that it took immense courage for these people to come and ‘expose’ themselves to each other.

The food was good and it did a lot to break some ice.

By the end of the meeting, stories were shared (some quite heart breaking), spirits were lifted (especially one shared he is now 19 years post diagnosis! Everyone was amazed) and business cards and phone numbers exchanged.

Was it a success?

I’d like to think it was.

As I drove 2 of the people back to where their car was parked that night, one said to me:

“I am amazed that there are so many young, healthy looking, talented people who have what I have. I don’t feel so alone anymore.”

I think history was made on 19 January 2008.

Fri, 220207 @ 0700