"Together you changed everything"

Good Morning,

I am currently in the care/support of these services and have been for the last year and a half, namely my direct point of contact and keyworker is Kelly.

Usually, at this time of the morning [03:43am] in the recent past, I wouldn't be writing feedback, but getting high! So it makes a really nice change to have reached this point in this journey I am on.

I would like to tell you how absolutely besotted (as a gay man, haha) with and grateful to Kelly, who has worked tremendously hard and persevered to the ends of the earth to get me from where I was a few years ago to where I am now.

Our first encounter after I initially approached CGL was quite funny actually, I think the story was there was another person with the same name, haha and I didn't expect to be in a group meeting with her so soon (the same day infact) after our initial interaction.

I was, to say the least not overly sold on all the ideas, information and facts about my habitual use of crack cocaine, but that was my prerogative! As time went on, I realised that everything Kelly and her colleague were saying was actually sound knowledge and in retrospect, I should have maybe not been so obnoxious in thinking I knew it all, or knew I could fix myself alone, because, without Kelly I don't think I would be living my best life now.

Notable examples of her triumphs all in the name of helping me get out the mess I got myself into, include: One time after a group meeting, I was concerned that I had not been for a blood test for HIV and others STI's for over a year (I knew before I asked her that this test was available at CGL), and before I could turn round and say, let's do the test next week (as I hate blood work), she quickly arranged for a nurse to do a dried finger blood test.

What followed was without doubt the biggest change, the single most jarring experience to my life, because of drugs, was that my results came back reactive for HIV. I put off going for my full blood test for nearly a year, and in July 2020 after braving it at the new Sexual Health clinic in Hatfield, a week later I finally knew (barring one set of blood results that was still to come later) that I was indeed HIV Positive.

Without Kelly's intervention and gently but firm push to get tested in the first place, I might not be sitting here as well as I am now, in terms of my health. Words cannot describe how much I appreciate her, kind, sensitive and diligent way of working. I can confirm after being on medication [anti-virals] for the last three months, I had a letter from my consultant saying that I am now undetectable!

More recently Kelly has been in contact with and supported my efforts to get emergency and now temporary supported accommodation after I faced the prospect of being made homeless in September. I am writing this sat on my sofa on my Macintosh I haven't and WILL NOT sell for drugs, in my one bedroom apartment [Sounds more aspiring middle class than flat], heating on, all my possessions and 29 years worth of personal history.

I believe Kelly is away on leave, and we have agreed to see how the next six weeks goes, and all going well, we have agreed to review my current engagement then.

I hope what I have written paints even just a smidgeon of a pretty painting of how Kelly has changed my life, with all her wisdom, personal experience and kindness. She has a great sense of humour, down to earth and as real as one could hope one to be.

Thank you and I hope you will pass on my sentiments to her and senior management. She should be commended and I hope to see you all soon again in person, as I continue this positive, forward looking, best life.