For Connie, case management has never been about paperwork or programs.
It’s always been about people.
When she thinks back on her 20 years at HOPES, one patient still comes to mind—a man who came to Reno carrying more isolation than belongings, and who found something here he’d never truly had before: family.
He had been placed in an orphanage as a baby and was never adopted. As an adult, he joined the military and later learned he was living with HIV. He didn’t know how he had been infected. He didn’t use drugs. He didn’t have anyone to walk beside him through the diagnosis.
But at HOPES, Connie and the team did.
She helped him access medical care, food, and case management. She worked to connect him to VA benefits and, eventually, stable housing. He came to HOPES not just for services, but for belonging—to sit, talk, and share a cup of coffee. Over time, he became part of the fabric of the clinic, known not by a diagnosis, but by his kindness.
One birthday stands out to Connie.
He arrived holding a frozen cake, smiling from ear to ear. His income was limited, but he wanted to celebrate—with everyone. He insisted on sharing what little he had, proud to give something back. That was who he was. Thoughtful. Grateful. Full of joy in the smallest moments.
He remembered staff birthdays. He brought small gifts on Valentine’s Day. And when holidays came, HOPES was where he wanted to be—because this was where he was seen and valued.
When he became seriously ill years later, Connie went to the hospital to sit with him. She made sure he wasn’t alone. Just as she had done for so many patients over the years.
When he passed away, Connie grieved him as she would a family member.
And in many ways, he was.
Connie began at HOPES when HIV care looked very different. Treatment options were limited, stigma was high, and many patients were simply trying to survive. Today, because of advances in medicine and a deep commitment to wraparound care, patients are living long, full lives—and relationships like the one Connie shared with this patient are no longer defined by crisis, but by continuity and trust.
Thanks to early diagnosis, rapid access to medication, and ongoing support:
- Patients are linked to care quickly and effectively.
- Most achieve undetectable status, meaning they live healthy lives and do not transmit HIV.
- Families are staying whole. Futures are staying open.
But through all those changes, one thing has remained constant: the need for human connection.
That’s what Connie has always provided. Then and now.
