I recently went on a house call spree in my area of Grand Rapids, Michigan. I went to two of our local nursing homes and did music and basic massage therapy. One elderly man was sitting in the day room by himself, everyone else had gone to activities. This man we will call Henry.

Henry was stricken with Elephantitis when he was young and then diagnosed HIV positive 2 years ago after a transfusion. None of the residents will go by him, fear of the unknown I think, and the Staff steer clear except for general duties. I talked with Henry for about 30 minutes, and then asked him if he had ever had massage therapy for his chronic sinus condition. He replied "Look at my face and tell me what you think!" I was taken aback, it had never occurred to me that no one would touch him.

So I asked him if I could try. He mumbled "Whatever". So I began my full facial and sinus massage on Henry. When I was done he turned to me and with tears in his eyes asked if I was retarded or something. I laughed so hard, and said "No, why?" He said, "Nobody even talks to me let alone touches me, and I thought maybe you was retarded or something." I said, "Everyone deserves to be touched, whether physically or emotionally." He laughed, and I now visit Henry twice a week and even many of the fellow residents have started to include Henry in their activities.