They also did not necessarily consider AIDS to be a death sentence. They live with the ambiguity of having a life threatening condition day by day. They continue to set goals for themselves, although not necessarily long term goals. In summary, these long term survivors are very self-empowered individuals. While most people maintain some hope for a cure, hope often becomes focused on preventing the debilitating infections that so often are a hall mark of HIV infection.
Hope is also about being able to maintain a meaningful quality of life.
For people with HIV or AIDS who have taken care of a lover or numerous friends who also had AIDS, their hope is to be adequately and lovingly cared for in the event of serious illness or debilitation. Hope may also focus in on not suffering or experiencing pain. In addiition, hope often beomes directed towards achieving a specific goal, that once reached becomes the impetus for setting additional goals. Many long term survivors know all too well from having been care-takers to loved ones with AIDS what the advanced stages of this illness can bring. It is not uncommon for some long term survivors to have outlived their entire friendship network.