Back in an Abusive Home

I am a 17 year old high school Junior, and I am about to tell you a true story that happened in my family.

About one year ago, my sister and I were babysitting our cousin's son, one year old, Marcus, because his nie week old brother, Charlie had a big bump on his leg and was being taken to the hospital. Around 10-11pm, the children's mother's boyfriend came to pick Marcus up, and it was then that we learned that Charlie had a broken femur (the upper leg bone) and 8 (5 broken ribs, 3 fractures in his arm.) How does that happen? Babies' bones are so soft and viable other bones throughout his body. Baby bones do not break easily, because they are so soft, they are almost impossible to break in two.

After we found out about the injuries, an investigation followed, and the doctors found out that the nine broken bones were broken over time, indicating that Charlie had been abused several times, and he was only nine weeks old! Naturally, we would say, "Put the abuser behind bars!" However, there is no "solid proof" of who the abuser is. Actually, the children's mother and her boyfriend refused to be questioned, and neither one stated who did the abusing. The children were soon placed in the custody of their grandmother, while the Child Protective Services (CPS) started trying to "reunite" the children with their mother. There is a problem with that effort, though. Their mother has shown no interest in getting her children back; she and her boyfriend have no means of supporting themselves, let alone two young kids, and they do not even have a car!

Even though the mother was not showing interest in the kids, the CPS started forcing visitations of the children and their mother, and, eventually, they started over night, unsupervised stays at the mother's home. At this time, their grandmother was keeping detailed records of the children's condition, when they returned home, and they were always scared, tired, upset, and even frequently, they had injuries. On one occasion, Marcus had a black eye, and when people inquired about it, Marcus nervously said, "Daddy." He then ran up to his room, scared, as if he had been told not to tell. At a later date, Charlie had bruised ribs, and again their grandma inquired as to what happened, and Marcus said, "Daddy kicked Charlie."

So, what has been done, now that an eye witness (Marcus) has spoken about what is going on? NOTHING. Nothing has been done. The CPS has ignored all of the happenings, and the case worker has said that, what Marcus says is not proof of what happened, even though he is the only eyewitness! It is clear that Marcus and Charlie are being abused, when they go to their Mother's and her boyfriend's house!

On Wednesday, February 17, 2010, a hearing was held, which was supposed to address the grandmother getting permanent guardianship of the children, but instead, the judge ruled that the kids need to go into the harsh environment for a 3 months trial period. Again, they have no means of taking care of the children, the boyfriend smokes in doors, and as I already stated, it is clear that the kids are being abused there. Why would someone order that they go back into that harsh, cruel enviorment? Because that is what the law requires? That has got to change!

"Over 3 million reports of child abuse are made every year in the United States; however, those reports can include multiple children. In 2007, approximately 5.8 million children were involved in an estimated 3.2 million child abuse reports and allegations. " (from Childhelp.org) Every year, hundreds, even thousands of children die in abusive homes, and the government wanders why. It's because the government, itself, sends the kids back into their abusive homes, even after it knows that the parents in that home are abusive. The laws need to change, if we are going to save children's lives. Let's put force the effort to make a difference in thousands of lives.

This is what the children's grandma said about the court's decision. "It's time to change the laws regarding abused children. How many children have to die before Indiana changes their laws? My grandson was brutally abused and now they are giving them back!"