Recently-discharged Broadway House resident Erica Guilbe has a dream: “My goal is that in three months my HIV will be undetectable. Because of the patience and care of the Broadway House staff, I know I can do it!”
At age 27, Erica has already overcome so much. She contracted HIV/AIDs from her birth mother, who had killed her biological father. Adopted into a loving family at two weeks old, she often wondered why an innocent newborn would be saddled with a life-threatening illness. “I was a victim of circumstance,” Erica says. “Growing up, I was under the care of a great doctor, but I refused to take my medications. Instead, I would look at the pills and ask, ‘Why me?’”
Growing up, Erica had lots of love from her adoptive family, including her parents and five older brothers. The close-knit family took trips to fun places like Disneyland and Disney World, and today, she remains close with her parents and siblings, including brothers Brandon and Rey. The family also supported Erica’s educational dreams. She attended Ithaca College and the Ohio State University, earning an associate degree in environmental science. For the past four years, she has worked in customer service for a firm that provides commissary items and inmate care packages within the New York prison system.
But despite her successes, Erica struggled to control her HIV/AIDS. After being hospitalized for nearly a year, she was referred to Broadway House last April by infectious disease specialist Adriana Grigoriu, MD. Extremely ill and depressed, Erica didn’t want to take her medications or interact with other Broadway House residents. Care team members respected her choices, but continued to provide support—and things slowly began to change. “The Broadway House staff were very patient with me, so when I swallowed the first pill, they were very happy,” explains Erica. “Then, I started going on trips with other residents.”
After her discharge from Broadway House on July 25, Erica now lives with her mother and is committed to taking her medications every day. She is thankful for the Broadway House staff, and also for her father’s daily visits: “I was a strong atheist until recently. While at Broadway House, I started reading the Bible twice a day with my father—he’s my Superman! I have learned to let it go and be grateful to God for giving me another opportunity to live. God is my hope, and my heart needed hope.”
Dr. Grigoriu recently visited Erica at Broadway House: “Erica was very sick before coming to Broadway House. I needed to meet the staff members who convinced Erica to take her medications and regain her life. I want to learn more about the Broadway House ‘secret recipe’ to help even more HIV/AIDS patients. You truly save lives here.”
