Kristen Davis

As a nurse, you might touch someone's hand, but you would never take them in your arms. Oh, my God. The image. Yeah. This is a huge deal. For a sense of timeline, this is five years before that famous moment where Princess Diana made history publicly shaking the hand of someone with HIV. Right. Five years before that. Yeah.

As a nurse, you might touch someone's hand, but you would never take them in your arms. Oh, my God. The image. Yeah. This is a huge deal. For a sense of timeline, this is five years before that famous moment where Princess Diana made history publicly shaking the hand of someone with HIV. Right. Five years before that. Yeah.

So it was at a time where touching a person who had AIDS, let alone holding them to provide comfort, is seen as extremely risky by almost everyone. There's also a large outside component to Ward 5B, which includes a roster of volunteers from the gay community, local hospices, and the Shanty Project, who do things like decorate and furnish the ward. Wow. That's so hacky.

So it was at a time where touching a person who had AIDS, let alone holding them to provide comfort, is seen as extremely risky by almost everyone. There's also a large outside component to Ward 5B, which includes a roster of volunteers from the gay community, local hospices, and the Shanty Project, who do things like decorate and furnish the ward. Wow. That's so hacky.

It's like the gay men go in and they're like, oh, the lighting in here is terrible. It's just like, but it matters. Yeah. It's all about dignity. Yeah. It's quality of life. They also run errands. They offer counseling. They look for housing for the patients when they get discharged because there are patients who are getting discharged.

It's like the gay men go in and they're like, oh, the lighting in here is terrible. It's just like, but it matters. Yeah. It's all about dignity. Yeah. It's quality of life. They also run errands. They offer counseling. They look for housing for the patients when they get discharged because there are patients who are getting discharged.

Nurse Allison Moed says, quote, on a broad level, we learned how to take care of patients who are going through this terrible disease. It was about caring, not about curing.

Nurse Allison Moed says, quote, on a broad level, we learned how to take care of patients who are going through this terrible disease. It was about caring, not about curing.

It was about touching and interacting, letting people know they were safe, letting people know that they were accepted, letting people know that their wishes were going to be listened to, that their thoughts about their care and options were going to be respected and heard. That was not necessarily the mode in those days. So very quickly, the demand for Ward 5B exceeds its capacity.

It was about touching and interacting, letting people know they were safe, letting people know that they were accepted, letting people know that their wishes were going to be listened to, that their thoughts about their care and options were going to be respected and heard. That was not necessarily the mode in those days. So very quickly, the demand for Ward 5B exceeds its capacity.

When a patient passes away and a bed becomes available, it's quickly filled by someone from a lengthy wait list. Then in May of 1986, the unit expands into Ward 5A, adding about 30 more beds. Wow. So as Ward 5B's profile rises, politicians, advocates, and celebrities stop by to show support for the staff's efforts and the patient's recovery.

When a patient passes away and a bed becomes available, it's quickly filled by someone from a lengthy wait list. Then in May of 1986, the unit expands into Ward 5A, adding about 30 more beds. Wow. So as Ward 5B's profile rises, politicians, advocates, and celebrities stop by to show support for the staff's efforts and the patient's recovery.

Of course, given the stigma around HIV and AIDS at the time, not everyone is in support of what's going on at SF General. Homophobic members of the public are incensed that public dollars have gone to the funding of 5B. And in cases where the patients are well enough to move around the hospital and visit the cafeteria, hysteria erupts around 5B patients using the water fountains.

Of course, given the stigma around HIV and AIDS at the time, not everyone is in support of what's going on at SF General. Homophobic members of the public are incensed that public dollars have gone to the funding of 5B. And in cases where the patients are well enough to move around the hospital and visit the cafeteria, hysteria erupts around 5B patients using the water fountains.

A group of four nurses even sues San Francisco General over fears that 5B is risking their personal health. But that case is ultimately shot down as 5B's model of care is deemed safe and appropriate treatment. Before long, it becomes the gold standard for HIV and AIDS care throughout the world. Meanwhile, the mission of 5B stands firm.

A group of four nurses even sues San Francisco General over fears that 5B is risking their personal health. But that case is ultimately shot down as 5B's model of care is deemed safe and appropriate treatment. Before long, it becomes the gold standard for HIV and AIDS care throughout the world. Meanwhile, the mission of 5B stands firm.

In 1985, the New York Times reports that just two staffers have left the ward in its first two years of operation, which is, quote, a much lower number than hospital wards normally experience. Alison Moed says, quote, we learned that compassion is one of those things that doesn't become depleted. The more you give it, it actually replenishes.

In 1985, the New York Times reports that just two staffers have left the ward in its first two years of operation, which is, quote, a much lower number than hospital wards normally experience. Alison Moed says, quote, we learned that compassion is one of those things that doesn't become depleted. The more you give it, it actually replenishes.

It's one of those things where the more you give, the better you feel and want to give. That's what love's about, right? There was a very loving exchange and loving feeling on the unit. And I know you could see it. We were really committed to what we were doing and passionate about being able to do it. So by the mid-1990s, advancements in medication change everything.

It's one of those things where the more you give, the better you feel and want to give. That's what love's about, right? There was a very loving exchange and loving feeling on the unit. And I know you could see it. We were really committed to what we were doing and passionate about being able to do it. So by the mid-1990s, advancements in medication change everything.