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World AIDS Day 2008

A Journey of Hope -- Inspiring Stories of Courage and Unconditional Love

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Sheridan & Shane | Stacey | Jonathan | John | Lesley | Joshua

The images and text on this page are reprinted with permission. They are from a collection of photographs by Katja Heinemann of HIV-affected and infected children who attended Camp Heartland, with reflections from the camp's director, Neil Willenson. The book is called "A Journey of Hope -- Inspiring Stories of Courage and Unconditional Love."

Their stories will shock and move you. Fortunately, because of near universal testing of pregnant women in the U.S., fewer children are born with HIV than ever before. However, with the growing pandemic among women, particularly women of color, many children now have parents struggling with HIV. We also cannot forget that, globally, the pandemic has orphaned 15 million children and less than 2 percent of HIV-positive children in need of treatment are receiving it.


Joshua
JOSHUA

I just turned 10 on Monday. I attend home school and I'm in the fourth grade. My favorite classes are science and history. My dream is to become an inventor, doctor or a scientist. I love to read books.

My lifelong ambition is to rid the world of prejudice. It makes me sad that I can't tell all my friends I have HIV. You never know if they will still be your friend or if their parents will let them be your friend.

I have HIV, but to tell you the truth, I forget I have it most of the time. I am reminded when I have to take all of my medicine. I take pills three times a day.

I got HIV from my mom; she got it from a blood transfusion 18 years ago. I have always known that I have HIV. My mom and dad are adopting my new baby brother. Isaiah has HIV also.

I go to the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, for my HIV care. I have met many other kids there that have HIV. I go to Camp Heartland every summer. Camp Heartland is a place for kids with HIV. I love going to these two places because nobody is prejudiced, and I have met some very good friends there.

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