Good evening, everyone!!!
Last weekend was supposed to be the final weekend of the year where a few of us gathered at my sister's house for a cousins' weekend. Which we did. We camped, we drank, we laughed and then...
Sunday morning we awoke to the news that a young girl was missing from the small town of Gas City, my town's twin city. This was very close to home.
The young girl was first listed as a runaway. So the search was on to find her. Some of our crew loaded up and headed out to walk the river banks, the woods, the park, and drive the backroads all in hunt of young girl we all felt in our guts was no longer living.
We facebook stalked, we mycase stalked, we gathered as much information as we could on the family in hopes of gaining a clue or two as to where to search for this young girl.
It is with a heavy heart I say this beautiful little girl, Skylea Rayn Carmack lost her life Saturday August 31.
This wasn't the worst of it, her stepmother (whom I won't name because she doesn't deserve that) strangled this little angel in a fit a rage over a damn bracelet.
As much as I am angered by what happened to this young girl and the abuse she and the other children in the home have endured. All I can think is we failed her.
So many in our communities gathered to search for her. Everyone came together in hopes of finding this lost little girl. Where is this determination when these children were being abused??? When any child is being abused???
Everyone wants to mind their own business until there is drama, then we sit and grab the popcorn for the show. But what about these innocent little lives??? Aren't they worth more than the drama that comes after some of them die???
I've spent almost a week now with this weighing heavy on my heart and soul. Our CPS system is understaffed and overworked. So many children and not enough foster homes. How many times had people tried to save this little girl to no avail.
What can we do as a society? How can we help? How do we make this stop before the next child is senselessly beaten to death over something stupid? Or locked in their rooms for weeks on end only being allowed to come out for meals and bathroom breaks (maybe).
What has happened to our world???
Child abuse has been going on for as long as their have been children and parents. I'm not saying this is anything new. But, in today's times when we are so concerned about children from other countries, but yet, ours fair no better. So many of the children right here in this country are starved and abused each and every day. Made to sleep in their own filth, given no way out of their situations. Should we not do our very best for our children before we go bragging that we could care for other children better than someone else?
This situation with Skylea really has my heart heavy for those just like her that may not be here tomorrow because no one truly cares.
I never met her personally, but she has impacted me in ways that I never dreamed of. I'm a deep thinker. Always have been. So when something like this comes to call, it really rattles me. My brain has been so busy night and day with thoughts of what has happened to this beautiful little girl.
What do we do??? How can we stop this??? Something has to change so these children know they have someone in their corner. To be so young and afraid with no where to turn is not how a child's life should be. If a parent is an abuser and the children are taken away, should there be a second chance??? If the parent is a drug addict and the child is taken away, should they get a second chance???
When do these children get a second chance??? When do they get to find out life isn't about being hit day in and day out until your little body is so sore from bruises you don't feel the pain anymore??? Where is their second chance???
I don't have a solution for this issue in our country at this moment. But I do know it needs to change, it needs to be a top concern. We need to put our children first. We need to say no more.
Rest in Heaven Skylea Rayn Carmack. I'm so sorry your life was what it was and your end was so tragic. I hope from your death we can learn how to stop the next child from having to endure what you went through.
Blessings to all!!!
Last weekend was supposed to be the final weekend of the year where a few of us gathered at my sister's house for a cousins' weekend. Which we did. We camped, we drank, we laughed and then...
Sunday morning we awoke to the news that a young girl was missing from the small town of Gas City, my town's twin city. This was very close to home.
The young girl was first listed as a runaway. So the search was on to find her. Some of our crew loaded up and headed out to walk the river banks, the woods, the park, and drive the backroads all in hunt of young girl we all felt in our guts was no longer living.
We facebook stalked, we mycase stalked, we gathered as much information as we could on the family in hopes of gaining a clue or two as to where to search for this young girl.
It is with a heavy heart I say this beautiful little girl, Skylea Rayn Carmack lost her life Saturday August 31.
This wasn't the worst of it, her stepmother (whom I won't name because she doesn't deserve that) strangled this little angel in a fit a rage over a damn bracelet.
As much as I am angered by what happened to this young girl and the abuse she and the other children in the home have endured. All I can think is we failed her.
So many in our communities gathered to search for her. Everyone came together in hopes of finding this lost little girl. Where is this determination when these children were being abused??? When any child is being abused???
Everyone wants to mind their own business until there is drama, then we sit and grab the popcorn for the show. But what about these innocent little lives??? Aren't they worth more than the drama that comes after some of them die???
I've spent almost a week now with this weighing heavy on my heart and soul. Our CPS system is understaffed and overworked. So many children and not enough foster homes. How many times had people tried to save this little girl to no avail.
What can we do as a society? How can we help? How do we make this stop before the next child is senselessly beaten to death over something stupid? Or locked in their rooms for weeks on end only being allowed to come out for meals and bathroom breaks (maybe).
What has happened to our world???
Child abuse has been going on for as long as their have been children and parents. I'm not saying this is anything new. But, in today's times when we are so concerned about children from other countries, but yet, ours fair no better. So many of the children right here in this country are starved and abused each and every day. Made to sleep in their own filth, given no way out of their situations. Should we not do our very best for our children before we go bragging that we could care for other children better than someone else?
This situation with Skylea really has my heart heavy for those just like her that may not be here tomorrow because no one truly cares.
I never met her personally, but she has impacted me in ways that I never dreamed of. I'm a deep thinker. Always have been. So when something like this comes to call, it really rattles me. My brain has been so busy night and day with thoughts of what has happened to this beautiful little girl.
What do we do??? How can we stop this??? Something has to change so these children know they have someone in their corner. To be so young and afraid with no where to turn is not how a child's life should be. If a parent is an abuser and the children are taken away, should there be a second chance??? If the parent is a drug addict and the child is taken away, should they get a second chance???
When do these children get a second chance??? When do they get to find out life isn't about being hit day in and day out until your little body is so sore from bruises you don't feel the pain anymore??? Where is their second chance???
I don't have a solution for this issue in our country at this moment. But I do know it needs to change, it needs to be a top concern. We need to put our children first. We need to say no more.
Rest in Heaven Skylea Rayn Carmack. I'm so sorry your life was what it was and your end was so tragic. I hope from your death we can learn how to stop the next child from having to endure what you went through.
Blessings to all!!!