ABC News
(July 8) - A couple says their vacation was ruined when an RV park owner told them they weren't welcome after discovering their 2-year-old foster son had the HIV virus.Last week, Dick and Silvia Glover went to the Wales West RV Park in Silver Hill, Ala., with their foster son Caleb. When the boy was banned from using the pool and showers, the Glovers said they were offered an uncomfortable and painful choice: They could either keep Caleb out of the water or leave.
"We weren't sure if somebody could get the virus if the child upchucked on them or from blood or what," said Ken Zadnichek, the park's owner. "We didn't know what the risk was. That's why we asked for something from their doctor or the county health department."
Dick Glover said the request for a doctor's note made it clear Caleb was unwelcome.
The video below tells the whole sad story. It's important to note that you cannot get HIV from casual contact. Certainly not from a pool or shower.
theteach
6 comments:
I completely understand the park owner's initial reaction. But once he found out the facts (which he really should have done BEFORE he talked to them and banned the child), he should have invited them back to the park, all expenses paid. Since he didn't that, I have no respect for him.
Raymond, don't you think that by now everyone in the civilized world should know that you can't contract HIV casually - in a pool or shower? The park owner should have known that there was no threat from that little boy!
But I DO agree that he should have invited them back all expenses paid...a real good idea!
Whether most people should know or not, I don't think the park manager knew and I don't fault him for it. I DO fault him though for not pursuing more knowledge in an area he was unfamiliar with when confronted with this decision.
Its not lack of knowledge that bugs me nowadays, its the apathetic lack of the pursuit of it that irks me. Especially when we have the almighty Google at our disposal...
But yes, he most definitely should have done his homework before letting his knee-jerk reaction get out of control.
Absolutely right, raymond! And yes isn't Google the best thing that's happened to research in a long time... I remember having to go to a library, ha!
Curious. I just watched the movie Philadelphia last night, and the world hasn't changed that much in eleven years...
jm, I watched Philadelphia when it came out and haven't watched it since. It was so heart-breaking that I have to prepare myself to watch it again. And then this little boy turned away when there is NO danger to anyone...I can't stand it!
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