World AIDS Day 2011 Appeal

‘Everyone had given up on me
but now I’m beginning to
like myself for the
first time in my life’

What would it be like if you’d been raped, lost custody of your child, were addicted to drugs, living with HIV and quite simply hated yourself?

Some people might say that Donna’s* life was doomed from the start. Brought up by an alcoholic mother and physically and emotionally abused, feelings of being worthless were ingrained in her from childhood.

She never felt that she fitted in and was plagued by negative thoughts, depression and anxiety. She craved affection and when, in her late teens she met a man who showed her just that she fell for him but also into his lifestyle of drug and alcohol abuse. It was a few years later that Donna fell pregnant with her daughter, Lauren.

Following Lauren’s birth, Donna tried to pull herself away from the life she was surrounded by and break the destructive cycle. But then she was diagnosed with HIV. Her feelings of self loathing were reinforced and she fell back into her old lifestyle and feelings of hopelessness and despair.

Things came to a head when Donna was raped by an ex-partner. In an attempt to numb the pain she spiralled deeper into her drug and alcohol abuse and hit rock bottom when Lauren was taken into care.

It was then that Donna finally sought help. She started working with Paula at Waverley Care and was introduced to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Life Coaching. For the first time Donna was able to understand the patterns of her own behaviour, why she acted in a certain way and how she could change that. She also met other women living with HIV who were positive role models for her. They helped her to realise that she should not be ashamed of being HIV positive and that she had lots of qualities to be proud of.

Donna’s love for Lauren spurred her on and working through her issues she realised that she could dream of, and achieve, a better life for her and her daughter.

Eight months after first meeting with Paula, Donna is no longer using drugs and alcohol and has been reunited with Lauren. Donna says “Everyone had given up on me but now I’m beginning to like myself for the first time in my life.”.

You can make a difference this World AIDS Day, please help Waverley Care support people like Donna and Lauren.

Thank you,

David Johnson
Director, Waverley Care

(*name changed to protect the individual’s identity)

Please click the button below to donate securely online through Justgiving. 

You can also donate by posting a cheque, made payable to `Waverley Care` to
Waverley Care Fundraising
3 Mansfield Place
Edinburgh
EH3 6NB