My Son is in an Alabama Prison

[graystar55]

I hope I can find information here. My son (who was diagnosed in 1992) and been in (mostly in) prison for most of that time has been telling me the end is near. I try to be upbeat, but he is serious. At this time, he has scabies, and in a note he send said his vl was 662,000 and cd4 count 63. I don't know what to do or think, I am broken hearted.
The place I was in 1992, when I knew this day would come. When he would get out of prison, drugs were his downfall. Stealing to feed the habit his crime.
He will be up for parole in July, I finally got someone to listen to me at the prison, he has has scabies for two years. He is in isolation at the moment.
This lovely state segregated it HIV pop until 2 years ago. This put him in the population that is ignorant of the virus, so death threats were common, he was bleeding from the sores. I don't know if there is any hope, even if he does come home.
He has probably been on everything there is, but the state does not care for inmates like the outside world... He is not a bad person, and had many issues for turning to drugs, to stamp out the hurt.
I just want to hear from people that might be able to give me advise

Thanks,
Graystar

[Wade]

Hi graystar, Welcome to the forums.
I'm really sorry to hear what your son is going through , but I will tell you
he is tough. 1992 was not a good time to be diagnosed with HIV and he has survived. I was diagnosed in 95 so I know.

I don't know what meds he has been on in prison so I cant really give you any advice ,only support. He will be out in July and there are many new drug combos available now, he will bounce back.
This is a tool from this website , it maybe help you in locating and setting up assistance in your area.

http://directory.poz.com/

Keep us posted.
Best ,Wade

[graystar55]

I must say this about Alabama, we have Dr Sagg and he is the best in ID med. I just have not kept up with the latest treatments, I do know my son told me he'd burned all the antiviral. Thank you for your help and poz feedback. Your right 1992 was a bad time, he thought he'd be dead in 6 months.. twenty some odd years later.. and I am not certain he will be released in July, he is just up for consideration. The parole board I've read is a lot like American Idol, three heads put together for a few moments can determine a persons life. In his case his death...

[BT65]

Hi, I'm so sorry to read about your son's situation.  I am a recovering addict myself so can totally relate to his situation with the drugs, and stealing.  Of course he's not a bad person, most addicts are good people with an illness.  I say "most" because there are bad people out there, and some of them use drugs.

Wade is correct, there are many newer med combos and I highly doubt a prison in Alabama keeps up with all the latest.  I used to work as a case manager at an Aids service organization and a few of my clients had been in the prison system in Indiana, and let me tell you the prisons did not keep up with all the latest treatments.  I was diagnosed in the very late 80's and have seen how the meds have changed.

I honestly hope your son gets paroled when he is up for consideration. You also have to take care of yourself.  I understand how you feel about him using drugs to hide the pain but you cannot be an enabler either.  It's a very easy role to fall into.  You may want to locate either Al-Anon or Narc-Anon meetings, to help take care of yourself.  I know, with being a mother myself, how we feel about our kids.  If I could I would move heaven and earth to help my daughter.  But we have to learn to set limits, know when we can do something and when our kids have to do the legwork. So please look after yourself also.

I'm so sorry to read that your son has scabies.  He's had this for two years?  That's a long time, I'm surprised the prison hasn't gotten this cleared up.  Wade is right, your son is tough.  '92 was a time before the newer drugs became available so him surviving through that time is a good sign.  I'm glad you got someone in the prison you seem to be able to talk to, I hope he looks after your son. 

Please feel free to talk to us more if you want to. We're here to listen and help in any way we can! 

Betty

[CaveyUK]

Sorry to hear this. Sounds like your son is in a horrible place right now.

But to clear something up, you said your son has 'burned' his antiretrovirals?

Do you mean he has taken a decision to stop taking these himself - effectively triggering a long, drawn out suicide? Or am I reading it incorrectly.

I see that he is still getting his numbers monitored, hence being able to quote his VL and CD4 to you.

If I am reading it correctly, is there any psychological support being provisioned to get him to start taking his meds again?

I can understand why someone in that position may feel extremely low but with a parole hearing in a few months, that should be something to cling to

Sorry again to hear about you/your-son's issues

[mecch]

Far as I know, us prisoners have a right to necessary medical treatment.  Of course that may be in theory, not practice. Its difficult to say anything based on a few posts in this forum about your son.  It sounds to me like you need a lawyer because it sounds to me like he isn't being treated for HIV and for scabies.

Not sure where his mind is at, maybe he is refusing treatment? Or his rights are being denied?  He made it to tritherapy.  In principal, since then, HIV is not a terminal illness, so the current state of his immune system was not biologically an inevitable "day to come" as you thought in the early 90s.  Though perhaps with the drugs or he may have a very damaged body from years of drugs or non treatment, etc.

Here is a link to the Lambda statement about the right to treatment:

https://www.lambdalegal.org/sites/default/files/publications/downloads/fs_your-right-to-hiv-treatment-in-prison-and-jail_1.pdf

I suppose your son has a complicated story about how he got to where he is now. 

Wishing you and him the best.