A Lifeline for Children With HIV/AIDS

By Emily Turk

For one 15-year-old D.C. teen, the reward for good behavior will be a brand-new kidney. During the past year, she has faithfully followed the medication regimen prescribed by her physician to treat the HIV virus she has lived with since birth. Now, the virus is no longer detectable in her blood, and she is next inline for a lifesaving organ transplantation.

For most of her life, she struggled and often failed to take her drugs daily, and her health deteriorated. Ultimately, her kidneys failed, and she required dialysis several times each week.

Then, the Georgetown Community Pediatrics HIV/AIDS Program intervened.

The Honorable Peter B. Teeley with his wife, Victoria A. Casey, PhD, accepting the 2008 Benefactor of the Year Award from David B. Nelson, MD, MSc (right), chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at Georgetown's 2008 Annual "Friends and Sponsors" Dinner.

Georgetown social worker Janet Osherow coaxed and cajoled the teen with phone calls and visits, and the child’s grandmother diligently worked to keep her on her medication schedule. The support worked.