Florida teen fighting for life after being infected by brain-eating amoeba

Fort Meyers — A Florida teen is fighting to stay alive after, doctors say, a rare brain-eating amoeba got in through his nose and infected his brain.

A member of Caleb Ziegelbauer’s family told CBS Miami the 13 year old went swimming at Port Charlotte Beach Park on July 1.

Five days later, he was in a hospital after he started hallucinating and becoming disoriented.

He’s been there ever since.

Doctors believe a rare, brain-eating amoeba swam up his nose.

It’s a condition 97% of people never recover from.

His family holds out hope that he can pull through.

“We try not to look at the numbers too much because there are miracles that happen every day and I think we’re going to see another one that happens here,” said Lesley Cornelisen, Caleb’s aunt.