Despite the best efforts of Hurricane Francine, the US Conference on HIV/AIDS successfully met over the course of several days in September in New Orleans. This conference is the largest annual HIV-related gathering in North America. This year’s conference theme was “Southern Joy” emphasizing both the ongoing struggles containing HIV in the American South as well as the resilience of individuals, agencies and other programs which are creatively working together to address the epidemic in the region.
Shake, Release, Relax and Restore
Fawcett presented two workshops, both focusing on wellness skills for long-term survivors of HIV. The first workshop was co-presented with Fawcett’s colleague Anna Maria Zakowitz from Amsterdam. Both Fawcett and Zakowitz are themselves long-term survivors and presented self-care skills from both personal and professional perspectives. Their workshop “Shake, Release, Relax and Restore: Self-Care for Long-Term Survivors” presented important self-care skills including physical movement, Qi Jong exercises focusing on body awareness and support, and several skills utilizing breath for relaxation and restoration. The workshop was very well received and has led to invitations from other organizations, including The Reunion Project, to present this material to a wider audience.
Increasing Awareness of Death and Dying
Fawcett’s second workshop was part of a panel called “Helping Long-Term Survivors Face Life’s Final Chapter.” This intimate discussion focused on shifting the focus of many persons living with HIV from one of survival through years of peril to a new perspective that includes an awareness of aging and end-of-life issues. Panelists included Fawcett, a mental health therapist, as well as an attorney, several long-term survivors, and a death doula from the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. This difficult topic is one that will surely emerge again with some frequency in coming years.