From Death Sentence to Legacy: HIV and End-of-Life Care – Part 1

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In this first of a two-part episode of Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula, Traci Arieli speaks with longtime HIV/AIDS activist Vince Crisostomo about his decades-long journey living with HIV. Diagnosed in the 1980s, Vince shares what it was like to receive a death sentence and then outlive it. 

Together, they discuss the early years of the AIDS crisis, the trauma of surviving when so many didn’t, and what end-of-life care looked like then versus now. Vince reflects on caregiving, community, and how the legacy of AIDS continues to shape how we approach death, dying, and grief today. 

Part 2 continues the conversation, focusing more deeply on chosen family, grief, and the ongoing gaps in care for people aging with HIV. 

Key takeaways from Part 1 include: 

• The emotional weight of surviving the early AIDS epidemic 
• How caregiving shaped Vince’s view of life and death 
• What it meant to be young, gay, and diagnosed in the 1980s 
• The evolving meaning of dignity and support at the end of life 

This episode aims to honor those lost, uplift those who remain, and invite thoughtful, overdue conversations about HIV and end-of-life care. 

Links/Resources 

• Guest Website: San Francisco AIDS Foundation – https://www.sfaf.org 
• Host: Traci Arieli’s Website – https://www.comfortingclosure.com 

 
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