Bonus time: A gay man’s experience as a long-term HIV survivor

Judith L. Hold, Kennesaw State University
Barbara J. Blake, Kennesaw State University

Abstract

The time after diagnosis of a terminal illness can be demanding. It requires adjusting to change while trying to maintain some sense of normalcy. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to gain an understanding of how one person lived his life while facing death. During the interview, the researchers used photo elicitation to contextualize events in the participant’s life. Thematic analysis identified three main themes: Finding Life’s Purpose, Being (In)visible, and Illusion of Control. To better understand the participant’s struggles and triumphs as he created a new existence, the researchers applied Parse’s Theory of Human Becoming to the study’s findings.