Julie Gregory was a sick child. She was in and out of the doctor's office and was hospitalized several times. His illnesses baffled doctors. She was treated for various illnesses, but she always seemed to be suffering from another illness. After enduring years of illness and misdiagnoses, Julie finally understood that it was her mother who was responsible for her suffering. His mother suffered from Munchausen by proxy. She abused Julie to gain attention and sympathy for herself. Julie did not suffer from a chronic illness; she suffered from chronic child abuse. Julie is not alone. Too often in today's world, children are abused, resulting in lasting emotional and physical scars. The question is, how do types of abuse actually affect a person later in life? Julie sought help and appears to be on the road to recovery, but for some the damage is ongoing. An abused person is affected beyond the act of abuse itself when they are forced to leave their home environment and be placed in a foster family. system. When authorities discover abuse in a home, they often take the child and place him or her in foster care. Sometimes the child cannot be returned to his parents and he must remain in foster care until someone decides to adopt him (A Childs Cry 1). In some cases, a child may not realize that they are being abused, which is why they love their abuser very much and may have a false sense of security around them. They would then be taken against their will and would not cooperate with authority (A Childs Cry 1994). Sometimes the child is never adopted and must spend the rest of his or her life until adulthood in a foster family. This could affect someone's personality and put...... middle of paper ... the little boy's mother is not the only culprit who causes death by abuse. Evidence shows that “the United States loses an average of 5 children every day to abuse-related deaths” (Karas 1). Child abuse is a deadly crime. Additionally, after a person has been mistreated, they feel unloved and unwanted. These people may become suicidal. They feel like they don't belong on Earth and might feel the need to commit suicide (Wylie 1). Child abuse affects different people at different levels. Long-term results can lead to prison or even death. There are many victims of child abuse who may be mentally scarred throughout adulthood. Abuse can lead to growing up in foster care, developing disorders and insecurities, behaviors inherited from abuse, prison and death. The problem is serious and more attention is needed to reduce this crime and hopefully one day eliminate it..