Kristen Davis

An AIDS diagnosis is no longer an automatic death sentence. And before long, HIV is regarded as a manageable chronic condition. Fewer and fewer beds in wards 5A and 5B are occupied. And by 2006, both wards are officially disbanded. 2006, that's like such a long time. Such a long time. Yeah. Cliff Morrison continues working as an advocate for those people with HIV and AIDS.

An AIDS diagnosis is no longer an automatic death sentence. And before long, HIV is regarded as a manageable chronic condition. Fewer and fewer beds in wards 5A and 5B are occupied. And by 2006, both wards are officially disbanded. 2006, that's like such a long time. Such a long time. Yeah. Cliff Morrison continues working as an advocate for those people with HIV and AIDS.

In interviews, he's not one to talk about his own emotions or experience, which is on brand for such a dedicated health care provider. But like so many gay men of his age, he lost an unimaginable number of loved ones to this disease. Cliff has said, quote, I have dealt with survivor's guilt on and off through the years and still suffer from PTSD. I don't have any peers because they all died.

In interviews, he's not one to talk about his own emotions or experience, which is on brand for such a dedicated health care provider. But like so many gay men of his age, he lost an unimaginable number of loved ones to this disease. Cliff has said, quote, I have dealt with survivor's guilt on and off through the years and still suffer from PTSD. I don't have any peers because they all died.

Oh, you're right. Today, the majority of my friends are 20 years younger than me, but I have absolutely no regrets. I would do it all again. I was a gay man, but I was a nurse first. The impact of his work with 5B endures. Today, there's a memorial plaque hanging at the hospital that says, quote, On July 25, 1983, here on Ward 5B, a group of caregivers gathered to confront a new epidemic, AIDS.

Oh, you're right. Today, the majority of my friends are 20 years younger than me, but I have absolutely no regrets. I would do it all again. I was a gay man, but I was a nurse first. The impact of his work with 5B endures. Today, there's a memorial plaque hanging at the hospital that says, quote, On July 25, 1983, here on Ward 5B, a group of caregivers gathered to confront a new epidemic, AIDS.

They created a haven of acceptance and compassion at a time when others were calling for isolation and rejection. They saw fellow human beings where others saw only disease and contagion. Together with a generous, loving volunteer community, they developed a world-renowned center of excellence dedicated to quality of care for the living and the dying.

They created a haven of acceptance and compassion at a time when others were calling for isolation and rejection. They saw fellow human beings where others saw only disease and contagion. Together with a generous, loving volunteer community, they developed a world-renowned center of excellence dedicated to quality of care for the living and the dying.

This plaque commemorates all who served here and remembers all who died. And that is the story of Cliff Morrison and the heroic staff at Ward 5B. I mean, holy shit. Right? Unbelievable. Good job. I mean, I think being... In any way first is one of the hardest things to do. You don't have anybody behind you.

This plaque commemorates all who served here and remembers all who died. And that is the story of Cliff Morrison and the heroic staff at Ward 5B. I mean, holy shit. Right? Unbelievable. Good job. I mean, I think being... In any way first is one of the hardest things to do. You don't have anybody behind you.

Especially like in Cliff's situation, he was having to teach and basically lecture doctors of like that whole thing of I have it already. If it's bad, I have it. So there's no reason I don't go take care of my friend. And that kind of energy, which is like risking it, that's the ultimate sacrifice. Yeah. For something is like, so you're not just standing by letting something go on.

Especially like in Cliff's situation, he was having to teach and basically lecture doctors of like that whole thing of I have it already. If it's bad, I have it. So there's no reason I don't go take care of my friend. And that kind of energy, which is like risking it, that's the ultimate sacrifice. Yeah. For something is like, so you're not just standing by letting something go on.

And then you become, Cliff became this example. Of like, well, if he's doing it, then it must be OK for me. Right. Which must mean that this hysteria is not the truth. Right. That it's essentially like we actually have to figure. And now, you know, now we know that like there there was very specific ways that HIV was transmitted.

And then you become, Cliff became this example. Of like, well, if he's doing it, then it must be OK for me. Right. Which must mean that this hysteria is not the truth. Right. That it's essentially like we actually have to figure. And now, you know, now we know that like there there was very specific ways that HIV was transmitted.

So that whole idea was completely incorrect. It was just no one knew the the exact medical truth. Yeah. Yeah.

So that whole idea was completely incorrect. It was just no one knew the the exact medical truth. Yeah. Yeah.

Because the president wouldn't say it was happening. I mean, like, if you want to read Cliff Morrison's actual own writing about this, there is a website you can go to. It'll be listed in the sources. And it's an article he wrote called They Did Not Die Peacefully. And he wrote it in 2011. So it really is like the firsthand account.

Because the president wouldn't say it was happening. I mean, like, if you want to read Cliff Morrison's actual own writing about this, there is a website you can go to. It'll be listed in the sources. And it's an article he wrote called They Did Not Die Peacefully. And he wrote it in 2011. So it really is like the firsthand account.

If you're looking for that, that's the source that you should pull and read because his firsthand account, you know, is what everyone should read.

If you're looking for that, that's the source that you should pull and read because his firsthand account, you know, is what everyone should read.