Family

In Memory of our Beloved Nephew

33 Comments

I wish I had a happy story for where I’ve been for the past week. I wish it had a happy ending. It doesn’t, but it is important that I share this experience.

I received a call last Thursday night that my nephew had been killed. He was only 4 years old. He was staying with his biological father and his family and should have been protected. Instead, the story ends tragically. Child abuse happens more than we want to think about, but if you don’t know it is happening, it makes it even worse. There has been an arrest and the person is still in custody.

I traveled four states to get to my sister and help her make arrangements for my nephew. I just can’t stop my head from spinning. How do you ever wrap your head around the fact that someone who was supposed to protect and love a child murdered them instead. I don’t get it. I may never understand.

I’m not going to get into any details, because (one) I don’t know all of the details yet and (two) there will be a trial and I don’t want to speculate. I guess the third reason would be to protect the memory of my sweet, loving four year old nephew. It just hurts my heart and my head when I think about it.

This has reminded me that all life is precious and remember to hold on tight to those you love and tell them often how much they mean to you.

I’m sure I will be writing more about this in the near future, but I wanted to let you know where I’ve been and what I’ve been dealing with this past week.

**If you know of someone that needs help, please call The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453) is dedicated to the prevention of child abuse. Serving the United States, its territories, and Canada, the Hotline is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with professional crisis counselors who, through interpreters, can provide assistance in 170 languages. The Hotline offers crisis intervention, information, literature, and referrals to thousands of emergency, social service, and support resources. All calls are anonymous and confidential.

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33 Comments

  1. This breaks my heart and it’s so tragic to hear. I’m baffled by child abuse and how anyone could ever lay a hand on a child in a negative and harmful way! Prayers and thoughts to you and your family Sherry. Prayers and hugs to your nephew who was taken too soon xo! Child abuse needs to stop!

    1. Brandi, thank you so much for your kind words and for sharing my nephew’s story. Thank you for your prayers and thoughts.

  2. Sorry for your loss. The angels are surrounding him with love & protection. I was abused as a child by my mother even after I had my daughter and there was no hotline when I was a child so I had to take the abuse. She even hit me twice in my adulthood, the last time was in 2010. The memory never goes away of what has happened even with therapy and meds. My mother passed away last year but I only have the feeling that she will never hit me again. But the memory lingers on. PTSD will never go away. It hits you when u least expects it. All I can do is pray that GOD takes the feeling away at that point in time. I pray that the memories of your nephew linger on forever in your heart. 🙁

    1. Lisa, I am so very sorry for what you had to endure as a child. No child should ever be abused. Thank you for your kind words.

  3. I am so sorry for your loss. I can’t even imagine what your family is going through right now. I can’t for the life of me understand why someone would abuse a child.

    I will be keeping you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.

    Ashley @ Dr. Pepper Diva

  4. I just can’t imagine…no words. It is good to get this out there. I’m sure it was incredibly hard for you to do! xoxoxo

  5. We’re so sorry for your loss. It’s unimaginable what goes through some people’s heads that could cause them to do these things to children who cannot defend themselves. Our prayers are with you and your family.

  6. It’s so sad to hear that the world has lost another little angel to child abuse. I also want to commend you not only for being strong enough to share this story with us, but for encouraging others to speak out. I’ll be keeping you and your family in my thoughts and prayers!

  7. Im so very sorry for what your family has gone through. Sometimes we never really know people. Praying for your sister and you!

  9. So sorry to hear you all are going through such a tragedy. May your sister find peace and know her angel will always be with her. Hugs sweets!

  10. I could not feel any sorrier for you,your sister and your family. I recently lost my first born Son suddenly and the pain is unbearable. I pray for you and your family now and in the coming weeks. I also cannot begin to wrap my mind around child abuse. All too often people do nothing. I would rather be known as a busy body and be wrong than to have been right and done nothing.

  11. Words can’t even express my sympathy. I just can’t understand how it happens but it does and it makes your heart break. I’ll be keeping you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.

  12. I am so sorry. My heart breaks for you and your family. You are in my thoughts and prayers. We may never know or understand the actions of another, especially when a precious and innocent child is involved. Nothing will ever justify what has occurred. I pray that peace comes to your family and that justice is served. Your nephew’s legacy shall live on via the message of love you are spreading by sharing this tragedy and by noting the importance of bringing attention to any level of abuse.

  13. I’m so sorry for your families loss. I pray for your hearts to heal as best they can and peace will come to your family.

  14. Sherry, my heart hurts just reading this. I am so very sorry for your loss. I agree, child abuse needs to stop, but as a whole, we need to stand up and demand more protection from our government. My mom and I have been in a very strong battle with my sister over one of her children who has been twice removed from her home. I raised my niece for a year, then she went home only to be pulled again and placed with my mother, who has had her for the past 2 1/2 years. The child only sees her mother 1 x per week in a supervised setting for the past 3 years and has no mother daughter bond with her. Yet the mother can quickly get a job and enroll for some online school courses right before court (after doing NOTHING!) for the past 4 years, to make herself look good. Judge sides with her mother stating “parents rights” and now there is a strong possiblity my niece will once again be returned to an abusive and neglectful home. We have appealed, will go into court on 9/20, and I pray to God we can get this turned around, or I may have a similar heartache in my future. Our system is so flawed. Until it gets changed, sadly, we will be hearing more stories like this. Prayers for you, your sister, and all who are affected by this senseless tragedy!

    1. Theresa, I am so sorry that you have had to deal with the situation with your sister. I pray that the courts will make the right decision for the sake of your niece. My heart is with you. Thank you so much for your kind words. It will be a long time before we can get justice for my nephew and peace in our hearts.

  17. I am so sorry for your loss and pray for you, your sister, and family to try find some peace. Thank you for sharing this and i pray this post may save another childs life from abuse.