Kindness

Recently a woman living through her last weeks of HIV moved into the House. Her T-cell count was 1. Veronica had lived the last few months in the Psychiatric Health Facility. Now she was dying. Veronica’s life had been hard. Not only was she ending many years of HIV, but she had also a long life story of addiction and serious mental health issues.

But once again, it was Veronica herself who spoke with great clarity and nobility about dying well and living well.

On the day she moved in, nervous and concerned about how the others would like her, Veronica extended her hand quietly to the first staff person to whom she was introduced. “I respond really well to kindness,” she said simply.

Don’t we all?