Treasure in the Trenches

In 1983, Dave was injured in a motorcycle accident and rushed to the hospital. There, he received a blood transfusion that was meant to save his life. The blood that helped his body heal in that moment would eventually threaten his life.

Dave was no stranger to health problems, having previously survived heart attacks and strokes. But nine years after his motorcycle accident, he fell ill with pneumonia, and his body struggled to recover. In spite of his past health history and bouncing back from several serious health crises, his immune system had taken a drastic turn.

At first, his doctors couldn’t figure out why. But after further testing, Dave received shocking news. The blood he’d been given in that transfusion had been contaminated with HIV. The doctors gave him only six weeks to live.

Dave felt as if he’d been issued a death sentence. After the initial shock wore off, he became angry. He knew the stigma that HIV and AIDS carried.

What would his wife think when he told her? How would he share the devastating news with his young children? What would others think of him? Would he lose his job? His house? His life?

Dave grew up in a Catholic church and always believed in God. But now, he wasn’t so sure what he thought of God. He began seeing a therapist, trying to sort through his tidal wave of emotions. When it seemed he might lose his job due to his ailing health, his fear escalated.

“You say you believe in God, but do you trust in him?” his therapist asked him one day. “Do you trust that he will take care of your family when you are gone?”

Dave swallowed hard. Those questions were difficult to answer. But in that moment, Dave made a decision — he didn’t want to do this journey alone; he wanted God in his life. He would trust God through this, even if it was hard. Whatever the future held, however long he had left on Earth, he would rely on God to provide for him and his loved ones.

Feeling he could confide in his church friends and pastor, Dave shared his painful secret. To his disbelief, they shunned him when they found out, literally shutting the door in his face. It was the early 1990s, and people still believed a person could contract AIDS from using the same toilet or breathing the same air as an infected person. Dave was mortified. If he could not turn to his church friends, where could he feel safe?

Dave surpassed the grim, six-week prognosis he’d been initially issued. His doctor prescribed several medications to sustain his life and his immune system. Dave was beating the odds, and his health stabilized. Most days remained a struggle, however, and he fought to stay positive.

Dave and his family stopped attending church for a while. Several years later, a neighbor said, “Hey, I noticed you haven’t been going to church lately. We’d love if you checked out Saddleback Church sometime.”

Dave decided to give church another chance, and he and his family fell in love with the welcoming atmosphere at Saddleback. When Dave learned of an upcoming PEACE trip to Kenya, he decided to go. During a meeting before the trip, Dave confided in the pastor that he had AIDS. “I would like to go on this trip, but I’d need a place to refrigerate my medication,” he said.

The pastor made the arrangements, and Dave felt relieved that he’d finally been able to share his secret. That trip was an awakening moment for Dave. He’d kept his illness hidden for long enough, and he knew he needed to start being more open with the people in his life. Hard as it might be, he knew it was time to share the truth with the world.

Dave also learned about the HIV&AIDS Initiative at Saddleback Church. He began to feel more comfortable sharing the truth, “I don’t have cancer, I have AIDS.” He started serving with the ministry and began openly sharing his story. While he could not change his diagnosis, he thought he could change his perspective.

Dave began to realize that other people needed to hear his story, too. Publicly discussing his illness forced Dave to trust God like never before. He participated in more PEACE trips, during which he educated HIV-positive mothers about safe breastfeeding. During one particular trip, he shared at an HIV/AIDS conference, speaking openly about HIV and sex. After the conference, a line of pastors approached, thanking Dave for speaking so frankly.

God opened many other doors for Dave to speak and educate others during the following years. He traveled to Ukraine and visited an HIV Celebrate Recovery®group there, attended the International AIDS Conference in Washington, D.C. At Saddleback, he became an active part of the HIV&AIDS small group and ministry, befriending others who struggled, too. When a former Marine from Seattle called the church and asked for help, Dave reached out to him. The man lamented he’d never marry or have children. Dave encouraged the Marine, reminding him that, despite his discouraging diagnosis, he could still live a full life of health and happiness.

As Dave’s faith continued to grow, God continually reminded him that he had a choice — he could sit at home and feel sorry for himself, or he could trust in God and go out and change the world.

The cocktail of medications his doctor prescribed were allowing him to live a full life. Though he still struggled with his health at times, he had regained much of his strength. He went from picking out a plot for his ashes in the cemetery to traveling all over the world to share his story. He knew God was using him for good and would continue to.

Today, Dave lives an active, thriving life. When he turned 70, he celebrated the milestone with his close friends and a special cake. While his diagnosis will never go away, neither will his optimism. Though he catches colds easily, his blood count numbers are back up to a healthy range, and doctors cannot detect the virus in his blood now.

He lives a simple life and continues to play a part in the HIV&AIDS Initiative at Saddleback Church, encouraging others with their health and faith struggles. When life rattles him, he reminds himself whom he belongs to.

“My positive attitude comes from knowing where I am going — to Heaven someday,” said Dave. “I never take anything for granted.”

Dave’s life looks much different than it did before the day of that fateful motorcycle accident and blood transfusion, but he would not trade it for anything. For during that rock-bottom time in the trenches, he found the greatest treasure of all — purpose and a relationship with Jesus Christ. And that will last forever.

Learn more about the HIV&AIDS Initiative at saddleback.com/hivaids

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