Two peer educators find strength through friendship

Fred Glick and Lionel Biggins work at the Truman Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri as peer educators, providing one-on-one emotional and practical support to people living with HIV. As part of the HIV care team, they help patients navigate the network of care, work with care providers to educate patients about managing their disease, connect patients to case management and services, and participate in weekly group presentations to help patients learn to cope with the daily challenges of HIV treatment adherence. They work part time eight hours per week in two four-hour shifts.

I feel like I’m passing on my blessings–having had HIV for so long and being fortunate enough to still be here, I feel like it’s my responsibility. I feel like it’s a privilege to live well and to present myself as a role model, and as a beacon of hope to people just by them seeing that I’m healthy and strong.

Fred and Lionel have a unique relationship. They both are 47 years old (their birthdays are three days apart) and both were born and raised in Kansas City. They live in the same apartment complex, have a strong sense of family, and are very spiritual. Both Fred and Lionel were diagnosed with HIV a year apart (Fred in 1986 and Lionel in 1987).

This is where their similarities end. After his diagnosis, Fred turned to drugs and alcohol. Fred explains, “I decided to take care of it my way by just diving into a bottle when I found out I was HIV positive…alienating my friends and family. I decided to quit drinking and quit drugging and I needed a place to put all my energy into.” Fred participated in the People to People training in 2006 and has been a peer educator at the Truman Medical Center for two years. Fred says, “It has kept me sober and it has kept me fulfilled.”

Lionel’s journey to becoming a peer educator was very different from Fred’s. He has worked as an interior designer for 20 years but felt that something was missing from his life. “I decided that I wanted to do something that would give me a sense of purpose, of giving back to the community,” says Lionel. He received his care at Truman Medical Center where he learned about their peer program and went through the People to People training. Fred began mentoring Lionel to become a peer educator in January of 2008.

These experiences have helped to enrich their friendship and their work as peer educators. Fred shares his story of personal struggle with substance abuse with others. Lionel says, “Fred is very inspirational to me. I always love to hear him speak when we go to meetings, because his story is so inspiring. I keep telling him he should write a book!”

I think this is the most rewarding job. It means so much to me that I would do it even if I didn’t get paid. I would be here.

Lionel has been on ARVs for nearly 10 years, while Fred has not required medication. Again, their different experiences complement each other; Lionel helps Fred develop a better understanding of what is it like to be on HIV medication. “I think this is the most rewarding job. It means so much to me that I would do it even if I didn’t get paid. I would be here,” Fred says. Lionel agrees, “I’m so blessed to be working in this environment—it’s a gift.”

Fred and Lionel share more about their experiences as peers

What do you do when you first meet with a patient?

Fred

We’re in a low socioeconomic area and we deal with a lot of homeless and a lot of very poor people. Before I start counseling anyone, I listen to their problems first. I give out a survey so I know a little bit about how much they know about the disease, so I know where to start the conversation.

What are some of the challenges you face as a peer?

Lionel

We deal with a lot of homeless people and people who are struggling with substance abuse—those are the most difficult patients to deal with, although they’re very appreciative and very gracious people. But it’s so frustrating when I can’t reach out and make them understand that we can’t do anything to help them unless they show up. I get on the phone and call their case managers and keep working until I get in touch with that person, get them in here. Usually they end up coming and I’m able to fix the problem.

How do you set boundaries for yourself? How do you make sure not to take home stress at the end of the day?

Fred

It was hard for me to let go of not being able to take care of everybody. A lot of the time I wanted to do what a case manager is supposed to do, so I had to learn how to separate that and to be patient.

I always go home and read my Bible first thing. I have to have “me time.” I keep it quiet and I do a lot of meditating. It took me a good year to separate the two. I had to learn to put up boundaries because I was bringing things home and it was affecting my health.

Lionel

When I get home I really just shut it off. I stop thinking about what I’ve experienced throughout the day … the experiences are very profound. I’ll just stop and read a book to counteract everything that I was inundated with during the day.

It can be overwhelming at times because I live with HIV myself and I work with HIV and I go to seminars about HIV. I have to learn how to balance in my life.

What are some of the benefits you experience as a peer?

Fred

I had one patient that came in here weighing 140 lbs. He now weighs 210 lbs and he’s gone back to work in the construction business. I just perk up whenever [my patients] come to the clinic. It just thrills me that people really know that they’re taking their medicine to live and that they have a chance.

When I got into People to People, I started meeting new people. They were at the same trainings I was at and doing the same things I was doing. My whole group of friends is connected to HIV and AIDS and I get plenty of support from them. These people are like my extended family because we are all in the same boat.

Lionel

I feel like I’m passing on my blessings –having had HIV for so long and being fortunate enough to still be here, I feel like it’s my responsibility. I feel like it’s a privilege to live well and to present myself as a role model, and as a beacon of hope to people just by them seeing that I’m healthy and strong.

I love the idea of being able to reach out to people who are newly diagnosed and show them that this is not a death sentence, and that you can live such a beautiful life if you choose to.

What makes your friendship unique?

Fred

I think we’re unique because our spiritualities are the same and we include that in our work. We don’t push it down people’s throats, but we let them know that that’s there. Lionel is a very compassionate man, and if he has a question or doubt he still comes to me or calls me.

Lionel

I met Fred in January of 2008 and he took me under his wing. I couldn’t ask for a better educator, a better teacher, a better friend or a more compassionate person. He has such great passion for his job and the people that he takes care of, and I try to follow suit.

It’s a very unique friendship because of our differences. Fred and I come from two different ends of the spectrum. That’s what makes it interesting — we’re so different from each other but at the same time, we’re very similar.