Lucas and Da Pirate reunited in Malibu for Camp Heartland
August-2006

A 'mug moment' during Chronicles of Narnia at camp in Minnesota
July, 2006

Lucas' story from A Journey of Hope

I grew up in the small town of Willow River, Minnesota. And when I say small town, I mean, small town; on a crowded day there might be about two hundred people.

When I was nine years old, my parents adopted a three year old girl named Tiff. She arrived at our house after attending her biological mother's funeral. About a year after I met and fell in love with my little brown-eyed sister, I was told by the caseworker who was handling the adoption process that Tiff was born HIV positive. All that I knew about the disease...and all I could really think about was that my little sister was going to die. It was all very difficult to grasp; my 10 year-old mind couldn't handle the thought of losing someone that I had just grown to love.

My parents didn't want me to know about Tiff's HIV status; they felt that I was too young to understand, but the case-worker wasn't privy to that information. SHe just said to me..."So you know your little sister has HIV." "No, I did not."

I'm not really sure if it was the best way for me to find out, but I do know it probably could have been handled better.

About a year after I found out Tiff was HIV positive, my mother told me about this camp that's moving in practically next door, called Camp Heartland. My mother found out at a town meeting that the camp was for children infected or affected by HIV and AIDS. At first I didn't want to go, I had never been to camp before. I didn't know any of the other kids, they weren't from my town. I was an 11 year-old who was too old for camp. I thought of any excuse possible, but my mother just said to me, "You're little sister is going and you should go to look after her."

So we went...and I don't know who had a better time, her or me. IN fact, I progressed my way from being a camper to becoming a counselor, so I could give back to Camp what camp had given to me...even though I feel I could never really give back anywhere near the amount of love I've received from camp. I still can't believe why they chose Willow River though, out of all the places in this country they chose my small town. I guess it was fate.

Last year at camp I fell in love. From the first day of staff training when we walked down camp's Trail of Hope...I know this may sound corny, but I knew this was the girl for me. We may sound like any ordinary couple, but there is one big difference...she is HIV positive.

I knew going in to our relationship that there would be obstacles that I wouldn't have to deal with if I dated someone that wasn't positive - but that someone wouldn't be HER. That someone wouldn't be my love. Her being positive has actually made our relationship stronger. We had to know that we loved each other and that we cared for each other because we knew the risks were so high, especially the risks involving sex.

I know how some people might say, "When I'm in the middle of it, I don't want to stop to get out a condom and deal with putting it on. It might kill the mood." I just want to say to you, that if the person cares about you, they'll wait the 30 seconds in return for their safety and don't worry; the mood will be just fine.

I know I need to be responsible because I know my partner's status, but I'd make the smart decision even if I didn't and YOU should do the same! Think positive, Stay Negative. Thank you!

Lucas, Da Pirate and Chauncey in da Garden of Hope-2006
It was never a dull moment sharing another week at camp with them!