Neglected

Summary: This book tells the story of Jamey, two-and-a-half years old, who is suffering from severe neglect. The police remove Jamey from home and take him to foster carer, Cathy. But as Jamey settles into Cathy's home a new threat emerges and coronavirus changes everything. Jamey arrives at Cathy's as an emergency two days before Christmas, having been left alone all night while his drug and alcohol dependent mother went out partying. Jamey is scared, small for his age, and unsteady on his feet, more like a baby, a result of being left for long periods in his cot which his mother used as a cage. When Cathy changes Jamey's nappy she finds his bottom is red raw from being left in soiled nappies. Slowly, with patience, love, care and understanding Jamey learns to trust Cathy and her adult daughter, Paula, the only one of Cathy's children still living at home. Cathy also looks after her granddaughter, Emma, one day a week and although she is a year younger than Jamey she is more advanced, highlighting the damage neglect has done to Jamey in his early years. When the country goes into lockdown many fostering practices change; meetings, visits and contact take place online which brings more problems. Referrals to the social services soar and Cathy accepts two more children short term. It isn't until restrictions are lifted the judge can make decisions on poor Jamey's fate.