Eleven-year-old Dexter, has contracted the AIDS virus from a blood transfusion and is now shunned by the townsfolk in his small, Minnesota hometown. Except for his loving, nurturing mother, Dexter lives a life of lonely isolation until he meets Erik, a tough, young neighbor boy who befriends him. The new acquaintance must remain a secret however, for like the rest of the community, Erik's overworked, embittered mother is fearful of any contact with the afflicted Dexter and forbids her son to see him. But the bond between the boys soon grows strong. When Erik's mom discovers their friendship, she threatens to send Erik away to summer camp, endangering their relationship. They read a tabloid story of a doctor in New Orleans who claims to have discovered a cure for AIDS, and the two decide to escape, embarking on a perilous journey from their Minnesota hometown down the Mississippi River towards New Orleans. Along the way, they discover the enduring power of courage and hope.