The Day at the White House: Dec 1, 2005

The Day at the White House: Dec 1, 2005

I think 2005 will be remembered as one of the most remarkable and eventful years in the history of McCord Hospital! The crowning touch follows:

Towards the end of November, a request came from the White House to the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) to bring a family who were directly benefiting from antiretroviral drugs provided through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) for the President’s World AIDS Day address. Pam Barnes from EGPAF contacted us with this request late on Monday Nov 21. By the next morning, we were able to find a family who met the criteria, and who were willing and able to go at such short notice. It was agreed that I should accompany Mrs Thandazile Darby and her two children, Emily aged 5, and Lewis aged 4. Within 2 days, and over the Thanksgiving holiday, with considerable help from the staff at Sinikithemba and the American Consulate in Durban, passports and visas were obtained. Flights were arranged by EGPAF in Washington, and by Sunday night Nov 27, 2005, we were airborne!

On arrival in the hotel in Washington, after 40 hours en route, a knitted teddy bear with Lewis’ name on it, and a doll with Emily’s name on it and a cupboard full of winter clothes greeted the Darby family. We were overwhelmed by the warmth of the welcome, and it only got better over the next few days!

The EGPAF staff opened their arms and hearts to us! Marissa and Katherine were wonderful companions and playmates to Emily and Lewis. Mark and Sahar and Pam helped Thandazile so much with their explanations, encouragement and assistance. The visit to the Office of the Global AIDS Co-ordinator (OGAC) on Wednesday was another experience of acceptance and overwhelming welcome. A brunch had been organized so the OGAC staff could meet the Darby family and the well known and highly regarded Dr Peter Mujenyi who is in charge of the AIDS programs in Uganda. Ambassador Randall Tobias had visited McCord Hospital and Sinikithemba while on a tour to PEPFAR sites in Africa earlier in the year. He and his staff thanked Thandazile for their courage and willingness to come on this visit. He bent down to talk to the children and pulled a photo of his own grand-daughter, Emily, out of his pocket to show them. Some staff said that meeting Thandazile and the children was a wonderful motivator, and they would work so much harder to help many others.

Thursday, Dec 1, dawned clear and cold! Thandazile and the children were up at 03h30, partly from jetlag, and partly from excitement. They were dressed and ready for the meeting with the President! Pam Barnes and Mark Isaacs came with us to the White House, where we were welcomed by people whom we had met in the OGAC office the previous day. Emily was asked, what is the colour of the house the President is in. She said, “It is white…there it is, the White House!”, and pointed across the green lawns.

We were taken into West Wing, and took off our coats. It was a warm foyer with carpets, old paintings, comfortable sofas, and a large green Christmas tree, decorated with a multitude of red cardinals. The children played with Pam Barnes, while Dr Mujenyi, Dr Mark Dybal and I talked. We were then all invited to come in to the Oval Office, where the President met us, and greeted each one of us warmly and shook our hands. He thanked us all for coming, and thanked Thandazile specifically for her courage to come and to bring her children for this special day. She responded by thanking the President for providing the assistance so that she and her children and many others could receive treatment. He accepted her words of gratitude on behalf of the US government and the American people, but commented on the vital role being played by all those who were working on the ground, and how good it was that the American people could assist in this way. He then bent down to talk with Lewis and with Emily. Lewis began to hop on one leg, a game he had played earlier, and the President joined him! The President then invited the Darby family for a photo, and gave each of them a bookmark with the presidential seal on it. He said that this was for them to use when they went to College, and spoke hope and longevity into their lives.

Each of us had the opportunity to speak with the President and have a photo taken with him by the White House photographer. We thanked him for the PEPFAR program, and the impact it was having in reaching so many people, and bringing hope and saving lives. It was clear that the desire to help people affected by HIV through this program is close to his heart.

The President then gave a personal invitation to the Darby family to the annual Christmas Tree lighting ceremony to be held that evening outside the White House. As we left the Oval Office, I heard some of the White House Aides comment how wonderful it was to have children in these halls, it was such an uncommon event!

We then were taken to another building where the World AIDS Day address was to be held. The President and the First Lady came into that room, and again each greeted us warmly and shook our hands. They then entered the auditorium / press room, and we followed. Dr Mujenyi and Mrs Bush sat to the left of the podium. Thandazile and the children and I sat to the right of the podium. Mrs Bush introduced the President, and he then gave his speech. There were about 150 people present, senators, congressmen, ambassadors, and reporters. Emily fidgeted briefly, and then curled up on her chair and promptly fell asleep with her head on her mom’s lap. Lewis snuggled against me, but did not fall asleep. When the President welcomed the Darby family he turned around, and saw Emily asleep, and commented, “that’s the effect of a long speech!”. There was a ripple of warm laughter from the audience.

Here is an extract from that address:

Today I'm proud to welcome Thandazile Darby and her two children, Lewis and Emily. Lewis, by the way, is age 4; Emily, age 5 -- and their doctor, Dr. Helga Holst. They're from South Africa. Welcome to America. (Applause.)

It's the effects of a long speech. (Laughter.) Two years ago, she took Emily to the hospital for what she thought was the mumps -- later they found that Emily, and the rest of the family, were HIV-positive. Thandazile's late husband's relatives tried to support her treatment for as long as they could, but the cost was too high. Thanks to the Emergency Plan funds, the Darbys began to get the treatment they desperately needed. Soon these children will start school -- and now their mom dreams that someday they will attend college. Here is what Thandazile says: "The medicine used to be very expensive. I used to have to decide between taking our medicine and putting food in our bellies. It was difficult, because we needed to have food in our bellies so that we could take the pills. Now I can afford to buy food for my family and we can keep taking our medicine to stay healthy."

I want to thank you for joining us today, and I want to thank for your strong example of courage. (Applause.)

That evening we did go to the Christmas Tree lighting event. It was a wonderful event, lots of music and singing, and Santa Claus (Emily was upset that he did not give out presents). There were thousands of people present. It was a really cold evening for South Africans from Durban!

The following morning we were privileged to go to the Washington Zoo to see the little baby Panda bear, who was the first one born in captivity in the USA. This little bear had captivated the hearts of the people of Washington. Visits by the public were not yet permitted, so this was another very special event organized through the President’s offices.

It was an amazing and memorable trip. The warmth and kindness and generosity of the people we met touched us deeply. On behalf of the millions of people affected by HIV and AIDS who are benefiting from PEPFAR and many other programs, we say THANK YOU, very, very much, for caring and for sharing so generously. Together, we will overcome this pandemic.

December 2, 2005

Embassy of the United States of America

Public Affairs Office, Pretoria

MEDIA RELEASE

President Bush Salutes Courage of Durban Family

Mother and Children in Washingtonfor World AIDS Day Commemoration

At a ceremony in Washington, D.C. marking World AIDS Day, President George W. Bush hailed the courage and determination of families in surmounting the devastating effects of HIV/AIDS, and underscored the U.S. commitment to supporting prevention, care, and treatment programs around the world.

Joining the President at the ceremony was a family from Durban, Thandazile, Lewis, and Emily Darby and their Physician, Dr. Helga Holst. The Darby’s are a family living with HIV receiving support from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief through McCord Hospital in Durban. They are three of the more than 40,000 South Africans currently enrolled in AIDS treatment programs directly supported by Emergency Plan funds.

The Emergency Plan in South Africa, working in partnership with the South African Government and over 250 local and international partners, is striving to prevent 1.8 million new HIV infections, provide care for 2.6 million orphans, vulnerable children, and individuals needing palliative care, and provide effective AIDS treatment for 500,000 individuals over a five year period. Although the Emergency Plan is a global initiative, South Africa is the single largest recipient of this funding, with almost $150 million in support for 2005.

President Bush made the following comments about the Darby family:

“Today I'm proud to welcome Thandazile Darby and her two children, Lewis and Emily. Lewis, by the way, is age 4; Emily, age 5 -- and their doctor, Dr. Helga Holst. They're from South Africa. Welcome to America.

Two years ago, she took Emily to the hospital for what she thought was the mumps -- later they found that Emily, and the rest of the family, were HIV-positive. Thandazile's late husband's relatives tried to support her treatment for as long as they could, but the cost was too high. Thanks to the Emergency Plan funds, the Darbys began to get the treatment they desperately needed. Soon these children will start school -- and now their mom dreams that someday they will attend college. Here is what Thandazile says: “The medicine used to be very expensive. I used to have to decide between taking our medicine and putting food in our bellies. It was difficult, because we needed to have food in our bellies so that we could take the pills. Now I can afford to buy food for my family and we can keep taking our medicine to stay healthy.”

I want to thank you for joining us today, and I want to thank for your strong example of courage.”

For more information on the World AIDS Day event in Washington, D.C. please visit

For more information on the President’s Emergency Plan for AID Relief, including background on the program with McCordHospital, please visit