Andrew Griffin :-(

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that four to sixteen percent of all children are victim to some kind of abuse or neglect. These numbers are probably on the low side as many cases are never reported. One horrible and unforgivable act of abuse is that of Andrew Griffin. Andrew died at the age of two on December 26, 2007, was murdered actually. His parents have been found guilty and are awaiting sentencing for the second degree murder charges of Andrew. The beautiful baby boy was just two months shy of his third birthday weighing in at about 13 pounds, which is actually the average weight of a three to six month old. After an autopsy was completed it was found that Andrew starved to death. Although starvation was the cause of death there was plenty of evidence to prove he was badly abused for some time. He had bruises old and new all over his body. He had new cuts and scrapes however did not walk yet. He even had new sores on the soles of his feet and bed sores behind his ears. Yes, bed sores, something that you see in many older patients from laying in bed too long. He was compared to as a Holocaust victim.
This is a situation that is without a doubt extreme, but how did it get this bad. This family had four other children and apparently some family and friends that had seen Andrew within weeks of being carried into the hospital cold and blue. The father of the child claims that his wife was always frustrated with the children and that Andrew was the only one she could control. He said that she kept Andrew in their room most of the time. He knew what was going on and just chose not to get involved. How could someone just turn the other way while their own child is slowly dying?
Had someone who had seen this little boy, a friend, a family member, a sibling, spoken up this child may still be alive today. This now raises a bigger question; why didn’t a sibling speak up? There are four other children in this family, have they ever expressed a worry to anyone about their brother. Did anyone take them seriously? Or did they not speak up because it was keeping the abuse away from them? Survival of the fittest within the family. Did any of the holiday visitors not have concern for this child that was obviously not up to par? Or did they just choose not to make their lives any busier than they already were?
Whether it is child abuse, domestic abuse, harassment, or the school yard fight, why are we still in that place where we turn around and let things happen that can be stopped? Have we not learned to have any more compassion than some members our previous generations had? Are we that involved in our own lives that we can allow such things happen?