Living Stories

Patients' stories from the FACES clinics collected by FACES staff

Managing HIV And Life As ATeen
My name is Violet and I was born in 1995. I am 16 years old and I am the second born in a family of five children. My father died in 2005, I was around 10 years old then and in class two at Joel Omino primary school. I am still at the same school, but in class seven now. I’m optimistic that come next year I will be sitting for my Kenya Certificate of Primary Education and pass with flying colors. After my father died...
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Dedication to Care and Longevity
My name is Joseph Odhiambo Omollo and I am 38 years old. I was born in Kisumu Holo in 1973. I was referred to the HIV clinic by Dr. Amos Otedo since I was doing poorly. However, I had known my HIV status since 2001. I was weak and had lost my job at Kenya Breweries in 1997 because of being sick on and off....
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Jamila Says Get Screened Get Treated.....
Jamila learned about the opportunity to be screened for cervical cancer shortly after she enrolled into care at FACES in March 2009. She had never seen a gynecologist, but agreed to screening without hesitation because she wanted to know if she had any problems that she did not know about. Jamila was screened with Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA), a simple test in which vinegar is applied to the cervix, making abnormal cells turn white. Her VIA was positive, and a further exam confirmed that she had an early form of cervical precancer....
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Family Planning – Men Embracing Vasectomy
JONATHAN OLEWE, Client at Kisegi in Suba District
VIOLET: What’s your name?
CLIENT: My name is Olewe.
VIOLET: When did you enroll in HIV care?
CLIENT: I started HIV care in 2006.
VIOLET: Where did you hear about family planning?
CLIENT: I heard about it at the hospital when one of the health staff was giving the morning lesson.
VIOLET: Why did you decide to do a vasectomy?......
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New Lease of Life
As Jackline Awino* walks into the clinic all the staff turn and stare in disbelief- their looks of surprise quickly turn into looks of pleasure. Jackline is no stranger to the FACES clinic. When Jackline first came to the Family AIDS Care and Education Services Clinic (FACES) six months ago, she was emaciated, needing help to walk, clearly ailing and struggling to breathe. Life had not been easy for Jackline, she had lost her husband to HIV and had been unable to fend for her needs because of her illness; forcing her to rely on relatives...
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A Family that Walks Together
As I settled in the sitting room waiting for the husband, Mr. Paul, my mind was somewhat unsettled. Monica, Paul’s wife, was sitting right in front of me. I was struck by her radiant beauty, but my in my mind’s eye I could see the Monica of yestermonths. Months ago when she first attended FACES clinic her cheeks were sunken and I remembered her struggling to supported her husband on her left shoulder plus Junior on her back as they came to HIV education. ...
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Miss It Miss Out!
Two women walk to the FACES reception. One looking in her late 50’s produces a referral from an HIV counseling and testing site. She looks a little tired and is leaning on the other woman for support. The other woman being leaned on surprises us by saying, "This is my daughter …"
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A Mother's Story
5 September 2005. A brown lady with a sorrowful face walks into the clinic room - on her back is a scrawny little baby girl. Her baby lets out a high-pitched cry that grips the attention of the receptionist. The 35 year old mother, Margaret can hardly make eye contact. The smiling receptionist at the clinic inquires how he can help; in low tones she says "...I am HIV positive and I was referred here…" she pauses and then looking at the floor says "I want my baby to be tested..."
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Hope Regained
“I was afraid that my children would be orphans. I did not know who would fend for the m” These are the words of Rachel* a soft-spoken middle aged lady who attends the FACES clinic in Kisumu. Rachel who hails from Ugenya (approx---km from the clinic) has come a long way from home to seek care. Rachel, a widow and mother of two boys says that her family had left her for dead until her sister came and took her to Kisumu...
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