12

This is the number of CD4 T-cells that one of our patients has. A healthy person has 500+. At 12 T-cells your immune system has completely collapsed, your body is constantly overwhelmed by bacterial and fungal infections, you our on the verge of death.

A nurse once visited a patient of ours in the hospital with 1 T-cell, his body completely indefensible, but he was nursed back to health, and today I have the pleasure of listening to his Haitian music at least once a week.

This is a reminder of why we do this work.

But today, our patient with 12 T-cells has no interest in taking medications. He will soon die. All we can do is ease his suffering.

This is also why we do this work.