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Jun 28, 2008 8:52 am US/Central
HIV Positive Boy Banned From Camp Finds Acceptance
(WCCO)
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Caleb's family never planned to be AIDS activists, but they say all the support makes it easy.
CBS
An Alabama family is visiting Minnesota this weekend, after their 3-year-old son drew national attention last summer when he was kicked out of a public campground.
Caleb Glover is HIV positive and his family was told he couldn't swim in the pool or use the showers because of it.
Camp Heartland of Willow River, Minnesota wanted to help. The camp has been hosting kids from around the country with HIV/AIDS for 15 years.
They flew Caleb and his mother, Sylvia in for the weekend to be the first to take a swim in the camp's new pool. Part of their trip to the state included a stop at the Mall of America.
The rides and the characters are fun for any kid. For Caleb Glover, they are a break from a life far different than most kids his age.
For decades, Dick and Sylvia Glover have been foster parents helping more than 60 kids. Still, Caleb is the first that is legally theirs.
"At our age, we didn't set out to adopt a little HIV boy. We just fell in love with Caleb," said Sylvia.
Camp Heartland, now known as "One Heartland" wanted to do what it could to help after its founder heard about what happened in Alabama. Neil Willenson, the camp's founder, called the family immediately to see what they could do.
"You can't get HIV from going swimming with someone, from a hug or a kiss," said Willenson. "It's now 2008 and people have to realize you do not get AIDS from being a friend. As long as there's ignorance Camp Heartland will be there for these kids."
Caleb's family never planned to be AIDS activists, but they say all the support makes it easy.
"We're finding out there's a lot of kindness in this world," said Sylvia.
Doctors have told Caleb's family he may only live to be seven or eight years old. He's hooked up to a feeding tube and averages about three hospital stays a year.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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