Road to Heaven

I know I was supposed to write something happier, but today I lost a friend. I don't think I've mentioned it on my blog before, but I work at a health department and coordinate communicable disease outreach efforts for our county. "Communicable disease" is primarily HIV. Before I worked here, I was with American Red Cross and taught the HIV/AIDS prevention courses, and also did a lot when I worked at the med school. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I've always been involved with HIV/AIDS in our community for as long as I can remember.

My friend David Aldridge has always been there. We met when we took our instructor course together several years ago. We've worked together planning events, support groups, and all things in between. His wife worked for my stepdad years ago and they were just great people. David was HIV+. He also had cancer. I talked to him before I left for the mountains and I knew he was sick. I knew his brain tumor was back and I knew he was struggling.

I said a prayer for him, and for his wife. But I knew he would bounce back. He always does. He'd been battling HIV and cancer for years. He was a fighter. When he was sick, I worried, but I didn't panic because he always got better. He always did.

The tumor caused seizures and convulsions so he was medically induced into a coma. Last night, his soul went to Heaven. David was the happiest, most upbeat person you could meet. He was real. He was my go-to person when I needed help with someone who was newly infected. He was my go-to person when I needed a boost in my work. More importantly, he was loved by everyone who knew him and he will be missed more than he could ever know.

Today, I am sad that I have lost a friend, but I am comforted in knowing that he is with the Lord and in a place with no pain or struggle. Please pray for David's family.