mind the innocents
with other children. I wish she could continue here full-time."
Kate was formerly editor of Positively Women's newsletter and has
a young son who stays at the Brian Shaw nursery while she's at work.
Michael is a World Aids Day baby. He is one year old on 1 December.Kate
is HIV positive, but her partner is not, and as far as she knows Michael
is negative too. But until the official antibody test at 18 months you
can't be absolutely sure.
Kate went back to work after five months. "I'm very lucky that I
was able to put Michael in the Brian Shaw nursery. Maybe I'm paranoid,
but I really wanted him to be at a place where they understood about HIV.
It's a future investment in a way. I'd like him to stay there until he's
four and to build friends so that in years to come when he knows about my status, he feels he's got a past
support network to draw on if he needs it."
If Kate wanted to send Michael to an official government-run nursery, it would cost her about £500 each month (the nursery is free for HIV-affected children at present.) Without access to the Lighthouse nursery, Kate would have to get a much higher paid job - with all the hours and stress - or go on benefits.
The nursery also gave Kate herself a lot of help in how to be a new mum.
page 3 of 6
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