- Email: [email protected]
Living with HIV: one person's journey (videotape).
Media Review
Feature Editor: Susan Benedict, DSN, CRNA, FAAN
Living With HIV: One Person's Journey (Videotape). Frank P. Lamendola, PhD(C), RN, CRNH. Minnetonka, MN: Journeywell. $22 (612/544-3986).
Although one may travel many times with individuals heading toward death, the journey is different when you are the traveler. So it seems with Frank Lamendola. Frank has been a nurse for 25 years and has specialized in HIV/AIDS nursing and hospice care. In this role, he has accompanied many terminally ill people through their last days. In his role as a son, he has been with a dying father for the last part of his life, and in his role as a friend, he has accompanied more than 40 friends lost to HIV/AIDS. Yet Frank Lamendola says, "I don't know anything about anything" when describing his last months with AIDS. This videotape is an extemporaneous presentation by Frank L a m e n d o l a at the 6th A n n u a l "To C o m f o r t Always---Compassionate Care for the Dying Palliative Care" Course held in December 1995. Frank dedicated this presentation to his father, who had been suffering and dying during the last five years. Although Frank has spoken to many groups and is well-known for his presentatious, this was his first extemporaneous presentation of this type. It is a gift to be a listener and to be made a part of Frank's experience. Frank describes his last year of living with AIDS as only one who is living the experience can do. He provides a brief background, stating that he believes he became infected in 1982 and had symptoms of weight loss, fatigue, and lymphadenopathy at that time. He was tested in 1985 although, he says, he knew he was HIV positive. It is difficult for him to talk about the testing experience. He was accompanied by his friend Kitty who is now deceased. After being tested, Frank felt as though he were going to die immediately. He describes experiencing each holiday and birthday as though it were his last. He grew tired of dying after a year or so and resumed a more reasonable life for several years. Things seemed to change after H a l l o w e e n 1994. Frank became ill and prepared himself to die. He said goodbye to friends and then surprised even himself by getting better. He describes living this close to death as 36
being very difficult. You must be always ready to leave yet fully committed to living. It is like living with one foot out the door. Frank was disappointed in some ways when he didn't die. He had come to view his impending death as "an adventure and was looking forward to not being here." A strong desire to skip the suffe~ng phase, as he describes it, is one reason he does not fear death. Frank has had to learn a new way of "being here." In so doing, he is educating us. Although he has had to decrease his activity level by about 75%, he is able to continue with the writing of his d i s s e r t a t i o n for his PhD from the U n i v e r s i t y of Minnesota. As a well-known person in HW/AIDS nursing, Frank will make a valuable contribution through his dissertation research. He has, however, taught us much about living with HIV/AIDS through his thoughtful examination of the experience. "One Person's Journey" is more than the title states. Through this videotape, we are invited to walk a little of the way with Frank. This program is relevant for nurses and families working with people living with HIV/AIDS and groups involved in grief and loss work. Susan Benedict, CRNA, DSN, FAAN
is Professor & Associate Dean, Research & Evaluation Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC.
Focus on JANAC in Chicago Do you have an idea for a feature or an article in
JANAC? or a manuscript in progress? Want to check out what JANAC is all about? meet the editor? some editorial board members? Or simply give us some suggestions for the journal? Do it at ANAC's annual meeting in Chicago. Look for the ]ANAC table in the exhibit area. It Will be staffed by one or more members of the editorial team during exhibit hours. Please stop by.
JANAC Vol.7, No. 5, September-October,1996
Feature Editor: Susan Benedict, DSN, CRNA, FAAN
Living With HIV: One Person's Journey (Videotape). Frank P. Lamendola, PhD(C), RN, CRNH. Minnetonka, MN: Journeywell. $22 (612/544-3986).
Although one may travel many times with individuals heading toward death, the journey is different when you are the traveler. So it seems with Frank Lamendola. Frank has been a nurse for 25 years and has specialized in HIV/AIDS nursing and hospice care. In this role, he has accompanied many terminally ill people through their last days. In his role as a son, he has been with a dying father for the last part of his life, and in his role as a friend, he has accompanied more than 40 friends lost to HIV/AIDS. Yet Frank Lamendola says, "I don't know anything about anything" when describing his last months with AIDS. This videotape is an extemporaneous presentation by Frank L a m e n d o l a at the 6th A n n u a l "To C o m f o r t Always---Compassionate Care for the Dying Palliative Care" Course held in December 1995. Frank dedicated this presentation to his father, who had been suffering and dying during the last five years. Although Frank has spoken to many groups and is well-known for his presentatious, this was his first extemporaneous presentation of this type. It is a gift to be a listener and to be made a part of Frank's experience. Frank describes his last year of living with AIDS as only one who is living the experience can do. He provides a brief background, stating that he believes he became infected in 1982 and had symptoms of weight loss, fatigue, and lymphadenopathy at that time. He was tested in 1985 although, he says, he knew he was HIV positive. It is difficult for him to talk about the testing experience. He was accompanied by his friend Kitty who is now deceased. After being tested, Frank felt as though he were going to die immediately. He describes experiencing each holiday and birthday as though it were his last. He grew tired of dying after a year or so and resumed a more reasonable life for several years. Things seemed to change after H a l l o w e e n 1994. Frank became ill and prepared himself to die. He said goodbye to friends and then surprised even himself by getting better. He describes living this close to death as 36
being very difficult. You must be always ready to leave yet fully committed to living. It is like living with one foot out the door. Frank was disappointed in some ways when he didn't die. He had come to view his impending death as "an adventure and was looking forward to not being here." A strong desire to skip the suffe~ng phase, as he describes it, is one reason he does not fear death. Frank has had to learn a new way of "being here." In so doing, he is educating us. Although he has had to decrease his activity level by about 75%, he is able to continue with the writing of his d i s s e r t a t i o n for his PhD from the U n i v e r s i t y of Minnesota. As a well-known person in HW/AIDS nursing, Frank will make a valuable contribution through his dissertation research. He has, however, taught us much about living with HIV/AIDS through his thoughtful examination of the experience. "One Person's Journey" is more than the title states. Through this videotape, we are invited to walk a little of the way with Frank. This program is relevant for nurses and families working with people living with HIV/AIDS and groups involved in grief and loss work. Susan Benedict, CRNA, DSN, FAAN
is Professor & Associate Dean, Research & Evaluation Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC.
Focus on JANAC in Chicago Do you have an idea for a feature or an article in
JANAC? or a manuscript in progress? Want to check out what JANAC is all about? meet the editor? some editorial board members? Or simply give us some suggestions for the journal? Do it at ANAC's annual meeting in Chicago. Look for the ]ANAC table in the exhibit area. It Will be staffed by one or more members of the editorial team during exhibit hours. Please stop by.
JANAC Vol.7, No. 5, September-October,1996