Patrick's Story

Patrick is 14 years old. He lives with his grandmother along with his 2 younger brothers. He is very shy but his smile comes out every now and then. His mother is 31 and has advanced HIV/Aids. She lies on a mat outside their hut, her body frail because of the disease.

We first met Patrick when we took him to the doctor for large sores on his legs. He had lived with them for quite a while, but didn't know where they had come from. The doctor mentioned that sometimes HIV causes sores, so we should have him tested. Knowing the state of his mother, we knew he was probably HIV positive as well.

We loaded up Patrick along with his brothers and took them to the local clinic that does free HIV testing. The doctors took him to the back room and we waited, hoping for good news. When he came through the doorway, his smile said it all. The life-wrecking disease was not passed on to him or his brothers.

Yesterday, we got a call that his mother was bad enough to go the hospital. They admitted her and it doesn't look good. The hospital here is rough. They don't supply any food, so a family member has to stay and cook all the meals. This means that Patrick's sole care giver, his grandmother, will be at the hospital. We asked him who would watch after him while his mother and grandmother were away. Apparently a half-sister lives nearby, and she will come stay with him. She is 14. Same age as Patrick.

Here is Patrick, showing off that great smile, sitting with his mother in front of their home.