Surprisingly enough, the little boy who'd been burned a few days ago continues to valiantly fight for life.  Last I heard, he was still alive; he continues to get treatment for massive burns in the burn ward at the local hospital.  

The child is still in very critical condition.

He will probably remain there for a very long time; once he does recover from his burns, the initial shock, he will, more than likely, need many years of surgery just so he can look normal again.  Right at the present time, he probably looks anything but normal.

I often think of this child, wonder what his family is going through.  The agony they must be feeling must be intense.

As for the kids who did this, law officials have finally made some arrests.  The kids were older, teenagers, ages 16-19; they were part of a posse of troublemakers who only wanted to cause mayhem wherever they went.  They are now in police custody, getting questioned; they will either be put into a detention hall or, if worse comes to worse, spend some serious jailtime. 

Or perhaps be involved in some sort of community service (maybe volunteering at a children's hospital?).

I think a good punishment for these young hoodlums would be spending some time in a burn ward, seeing severely burned patients get treatment, or a hospital emergency room, where they can see the blood-and-guts of life firsthand.

Maybe that would change their tune. 

Somehow, deep down, I doubt that will ever happen; it seems that today's kids have become callous, unfeeling, apathetic to other people or their feelings.

They just don't care, period.

I still can't imagine the reasoning behind this little disabled boy getting treated in such a cruel, dispicable way.  He didn't deserve to be burned when he couldn't even defend himself!  What were these kids thinking?  Did they enjoy torturing a helpless child?  Did they do it for kicks, or did they want to feel powerful, knowing that they could take advantage of someone who was smaller, younger, weaker?

I can't seem to get this child out of my mind.  I have never seen him, but I feel that I must pray for him.  He is going to need a lot of prayer in the days/weeks/months/years ahead!

I think I might go see him at the hospital, see him for myself.  Maybe then I will understand what this child must be enduring. 

*To be continued.*