By MONA NAIR
6 News Reporter
KNOXVILLE (WATE) – A Knoxville family is trying to bring their four-year-old's body home to be buried.
Caleb Shermer and his mother moved to Springfield, Ill., a few months ago. The boy died Thursday morning there in a hospital. Now the family doesn't have money to bury him at home.
"He was a very sweet little boy," Stella Clabough, Caleb's aunt said. "He always liked to hug you and tell you that he loves you."
She says it was hard not to love the spunky four-year-old. Caleb was born in Knoxville. His entire family is also from the area. Two months ago, Caleb and his mom, who was looking for work, moved to Springfield.
"They wanted to start a new life," Clabough said.
She says they had just started to settle into their new surroundings.
"He was very happy. He had a lot of kids to play with. Then he got sick last Sunday and put (doctors put him) in the hospital. They said he had mono," Clabough explained.
Completely out of the blue, complications arose and Caleb passed away.
"It was such a shock," Clabough said. "He went to the hospital on Monday, and they were talking about him coming home."
His family wants to bring the body home and give him a proper burial.
"They just don't have any money to come home with," she said. "So we're hoping someone in Knoxville might help."
If they cannot figure out a solution by this weekend, Caleb will have to be cremated in Illinois. The family is hoping to avoid this unwelcome scenario.
"This is his home, where he was born. All his family and friends are here. We want him to come home, so we can see him one more time," she said.
The family says they aren't really looking for donations. What they're hoping for is someone that can help them find a way to transport his body here and give him a burial.
To help, contact Stella Clabough at (865) 237-0622.
Caleb Shermer died Thursday morning in an Illinois hospital.
"This is his home, where he was born, said Caleb's aunt, Stella Clabough.
