[Music]
Michael Hawkins: My name is Michael Hawkins. I'm from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, off of 12th and Poplar. It was kind of rough – there's all kinds of things that are going on in the projects. You see a lot of things that aren't right. I started stealing, doing all kinds of things, selling drugs. Then I got hooked on drugs – for 33 years, I used heroin.
[GRAPHIC: Over 23,000 have been served across PHMC's physical and behavioral health services]
So, I took a random HIV test, and the doctor called me in and said, "Want to sit down?" I said, "For what?" "Yeah, I think you need to sit down." He told me I was HIV positive.
[GRAPHIC: 400 patients undergoing HIV treatment at PHMC Care Clinic]
So, I just happened to meet this young lady, who today is my wife, and she suggested that I go to the Care Clinic. When I went there, it was just like I was talking to a friend. He assured me that he'd meet all my needs. I can't even begin to tell you all that they have done. I'm talking about a call on a Saturday or Sunday – "Michael, are you alright? Is your wife alright?" I've got a direct line to my doctor. There's not a time that he didn't answer the phone. I've overcome the 12-step meetings. I've been clean for seven years.
[GRAPHIC: 15,000 plus have been served by the PHMC Health Network and 2,500 at PHMC Care Clinic]
PHMC has outreach programs. They help the homeless. They make so many sacrifices that make you feel like they're family. So, that made me want to help a lot of people that might be going through what I was going through.
[GRAPHIC: 74/5% of PHMC Health Network patients will recommend our health centers to family and friends]
There's a bunch of joy in my life today instead of miseries. I never had any complications with my HIV since I've been at the Care Clinic. I'm forever grateful.
