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Long after his HIV diagnosis in 2015, Randy Davis chose not to declare his status publicly. He feared to be judged, isolated and defined solely by his illness – a disease that continues to be deeply misunderstood by many.
"I was single at the time," recalls Davis, 52. "I thought I would never find anyone who would like to touch me, let alone anyone to love."
Then, shortly thereafter, a nurse practitioner from an Ottawa hospital took her in his arms. It was a heat demonstration that Davis desperately needed, and it moved him to tears.
Now, after giving up his 20-year career in finance to focus on gay men's health care and advocating for people living with HIV, Davis should volunteer as a "healer" in the first spa. to the HIV-positive world.
Even after 40 years of education, people still think that you can get HIV skin to skin. So we open Healing House, the world's first HIV + spa. #SmashStigma
– Casey House (@caseyhouseTO) November 20, 2018
By the end of November, fourteen people living with HIV will be available for "light" services, including hand, neck and shoulder treatments and mini-facials, all for free.
The event is called Healing House and is hosted by Casey House in Toronto – the only independent hospital in Canada for people living with HIV / AIDS.
The healers will be trained by Melissa Doldron, a massage therapist for the Toronto Blue Jays, and custom oils will be provided by the province-based organic skincare line Province Apothecary in Toronto.
Joanne Simons, CEO of Casey House, said that the power of touch in physical and mental healing can not be overestimated.
"One of our clients at Casey House comes specifically for massage because it's the only touch of his life," said Simons. "She has not disclosed her status to the public and she is not in a relationship, she just wants to experience the very normal experience of skin-to-skin contact that humans need." to feel normal, to feel connected. "
Despite countless awareness campaigns, the stigma against people living with HIV continues to be ubiquitous. According to a survey by Casey House conducted by market research firm Leger, only 38% of Canadians are willing to share skin-to-skin contact with an HIV-positive person.
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HIV-positive activist Muluba Habanyama is intimately aware of this hesitation. Many massage therapists and dentists have refused. Even a mentor insisted on serving him dinner on a disposable plate.
The mission of the 25-year-old woman, whose mission was to dismantle this ignorance, led her to volunteer for Eatery in June, an event at Casey House where the public could take part in a prepared meal by people living with HIV.
June's reaction to Eatery was extremely positive, Simons said. Nevertheless, she has been left with poorly-informed messages on social media.
"Every day, there were thousands of vile comments," she said. "Disinformation, attacks, it was discouraging to read, I do not want our customers to internalize this kind of abuse more."
Although appointments are available, the Healing House offers people the opportunity to go on-site for services Habanyama said that she was slightly worried about who might show up and what they could say. She has already seen a handful of uncomfortable comments on Twitter.
HIV is the infection, stigma is the disease.Randy Davis, healer
"It can be exhausting to explain everything all the time, to be responsible for the knowledge of others," she said. "I know so many other HIV-positive youth who have chosen not to be there because it's not theirs to care for, and you really can not blame them."
"You have to hand it to the healers involved in an event like this to have the strength and courage to excel."
Davis' courage comes in part from his mistakes in his chances of finding love: thirteen months after his diagnosis, he met the man who would become her husband. Davis was candid about his status and his partner was "only supportive".
They got married this summer.
"HIV is the infection, stigma is the disease," Davis said. "It's the disease that the healing house is trying to eradicate."
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