As much as kids might like to believe they're invincible, they're actually one of the most vulnerable groups in society. On top of being susceptible to the occasional grazed knee or runny nose, children can also be hurt by the actions of those around them - especially if they're not given the care they deserve.
For that reason, most little ones are looked after by their parents (or, failing that, a guardian of some sort) in order to keep them safe from harm. Unfortunately, we still hear stories every day about children suffering violence at the hands of relatives, or severe neglect from those who were supposed to care for them.
This was exactly the case with Kaylene Bowen, a mother from Dallas, Texas, who was recently arrested on felony injury charges after it transpired that she had been abusing her son for his entire life.
Over the course of eight years, Kayleen convinced doctors that her son, Christopher, was critically ill and needed urgent medical care. She claimed that he had a severe milk allergy, that he needed organ transplants, and, most worryingly, told people that the boy had terminal cancer.
In reality, though, Christopher was perfectly healthy.
However, this did not stop Kayleen from taking the boy to more than 300 hospital visits since his birth and subjecting him to 13 major surgeries - some of which could have killed him.
Two years ago, medical professionals who met with Kayleen and Christopher began to get suspicious about the frequency at which the boy was falling ill, and contacted child protective services in order to investigate the matter.
Now, after a legal case against Kayleen, Christopher's father has revealed the lies that the 34-year-old mother told over the years.
"She started explaining to the judge that the doctors stated my son would never walk," said Ryan Crawford, Ben's father. "And then she stated that he had problems continuing to eat and that he's going to need a feeding tube."
Kayleen had previously claimed that Christopher would vomit any time he consumed milk, and that he needed a lung transplant because of the severe side effects.
According to Ryan, the issues started just eight days after Christopher was born. "The issues escalated to eventually [claiming] that my son was dying," he said. "I was horrified because from what I knew, my son was fine. He just needed - not even extra care - he was fine."
Tragically, Ryan partly blames himself for the suffering Christopher has had to endure, as he separated from Kayleen some years ago, and was not around to intervene in her treatment of the young child. Fortunately for him, Christopher survived the ordeal, and is now in his father's care.
However, though it has now become clear that Christopher doesn't have any medical problems, Kayleen's own health has been called into question. It is believed that she may suffer from a condition called
Munchhausen by Proxy - an illness which prompts individuals to cause harm to others in order to seek attention and care from medical professionals.
Victims of Munchhausen by Proxy are most often children, as they do not have the capacity to explain their symptoms (or lack thereof) themselves. And, unsurprisingly, those who inflict harm are most commonly parents or caregivers, as they have access to vulnerable subjects.
Kayleen showed all the trademark symptoms of the condition, and the crowdfunding pages she set up for Christopher's 'illnesses' showed just how far she was willing to go in order to get attention.
She has been charged with inflicting injury on a child.
