I myself have been HIV+ for over 13yrs now and have also been in physical pain and agony due to the virus. But since I have been on ARV's I am doing well thus far. Let me start, on the 22nd of August the company which I had been loyal too for over 8 years closed there doors. Without any retrenchment package, uif. Ealier this year I was too ill to work and was booked off for three months on Illness benifits but could not claim as the company i was working for was not registered with UIF. That is when all the problems started. Besides deducting money off my salary for the past 8 years without a peep from me. I remained loyal and steadfast to the owner at all times. Even when the staff walked out I was the only one that stood by his side.
During the building of the new venue I worked my ass off as a painter and had to learn many other building skills. I became ill due to the stress and hard labour that I was doing. It led to me having an agina. This was not the first this was the second. The first one I had in my sleep and the next day my face was paralysed and this lasted over a month I worked just like that at the front desk
Not too mention the many times I worked selfless and very ill I stayed at my post until I was taken to hospital not once but many times. But to what avail.....I can't claim UIF even for the previous 7 years of hard work becuase the Department Of Labour could not find us registered even though I provided them with the Receiver Of Revenue's Number of payment.
So, without a cent or income I went home. Where was I suppose to buy food and look after my partner, how where we supposed to survive. His finances had run out and I was the only income and now we both did not have income. Does anyone know what it is like not to have food and fight for all your collegues rights to live! I had to make contact with the owners time and time again and was told to hold fire. So I did (CCMA procedings)
The stress on Robert and myself was tremendous, I eventually picked up the courage and asked for help and I recieved R200 for food and if it was not for my father who helped us we would have starved. Robert grew more ill and depressed by the day. I gave him the very best that I could. I was given a job by a very kind friend. I worked and am still working 12hr nightshifts a day and that took a toll on Robert. In between me having 3 to 4hrs sleep a day to give Robert attention and to make sure that he was loved and cared for.
He just was in imense pain all the time and there was not a dam thing I could about it. I lay crying day after day.....not showing one tear to Robert, I had to remain strong and show leadership and strength. Every day I recieved call from my ex collegues on what is going on and when are we getting our outstanding salay or retrenchment packages.
I did not even have the money to call them back, so I sent sms's via the internet trying to explaint that we have to wait. It was getting to much for me, having to care for Robert and tryiing to get some money to survive. I got so desparate that I sent out emails for help but no one helped or could help.
So I was stuck and was about to loose the very roof over our heads.Even though I was working long hours and no matter how tired I was I had to bathe and feed Robert or try and do so. On a daily basis he went out and bought his cigs and food and ate. I brought home what food I could to feed him and if I did not have enough I would go without for his sake. I tried in vain to get him to hospital but he would not go. He now wanted to die.....
This is the true and sad events....I now find myself still fighting for money owed to no avail and now mourn the death of my partner which led me to entering this entry.
On Monday morning when I got home he was so ill, I called the ambulance and said they should get to my flat as quickly as posstible as Robert was in pain and agony. He kept on saying I am dying Mark The fear in his eyes, he pushed me aside and crawled to the bed and would not allow me to help him.....By this time I had called the ambulance four times and not only that I had to call my doctor and tell them what was going on and that if they could try and get an ambulance quicker and as i was on the line his heart stopped and he died. I threw him off the bed hysterical I started fumbling and performing CPR and calling for help.....
The fire brigade arrived while I was still doing CPR and this was over two hours after I made the emergancy call I was the first time that there was no ambulances available and that it was not a priority call what is then.......I said he was dying.....
We carried on and on until the paramedica arrived doing CPR on Robert my heart racing and sweat running down my face as I had been doing this for over an hour already, deep down inside I knew that we had to stop......
He was declared dead at 10am.....
I am shocked to hear from the ambulance crew that this was there first call to my flat. What happened to the other pleas for help......
If anyone is reading this......this is what I have been through since 22nd August 2005
Has anyone looked into there dying partners eyes and see the fear and pain and then.......
silence.............unbelief and then the desparate attempt to revive and the hope shattered after you are called aside and told it is over............
I am indeed in mourning and indeed furious with my ex employer for not leaving us with any hope of income after 8 years of loyalty and hard work. Now I am left with nothing and my life partner taken too.......
If things where differant and we recieved our UIF at least we would have stood a chance.........but to be left with nothing that is dam disgusting.....
where is his concience???????
Mark Farrell
021 4225884
076 280 2833
Pos4life Online Support Group
076 280 2833
27 76 280 2833
Yahoo! for Good
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