Boy dies after parents try to "pray away" his burst appendix

[DigitalFudge]

Two parents have avoided jail after admitting they let their son, 16, die in horrible agony because they chose to 'pray away' his burst appendix and refused to take him to the hospital.
Russel and Brandi Bellew, age 39 and 36, of Creswell, Oregon, pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide on Tuesday and were sentenced to five years probation after reaching a plea deal with prosecutors.
The couple, who had seven children before Austin Sprout's death, are members of the General Assembly and the Church of the First Born in nearby Pleasant Hill, which shuns modern medicine and teaches parishioners that faith healing and prayer will cure disease.

Excruciating: Austin Sprout, 16, died of a burst appendix after suffering appendicitis for a week. The painful disease is easily remedied by routine surgery
It was also revealed on Tuesday that Austin died in December from a burst appendix after he suffered from appendicitis for a week, the Eugene Register Guard reported.
Appendicitis, the inflammation of the appendix, often results in excruciating abdominal pain that requires heavy doses of morphine to keep under control. However, it can be easily treated with routine surgery that removes the appendix.

Left untreated, the inflamed organ can burst and spew bile into the body, which results in dangerous infections that often prove deadly.
The couple were charged with second-degree manslaughter after authorities learned the Austin's death could have been prevented if his parents had simple taken him to the hospital.
Austin's father, Anthony, died in 2007 of sepsis, after he refused to seek treatment for an infected injury to his leg.


At the time of Austin's death, his uncle Shawn Sprout, defended the congregation's practice of faith healing.
'We trust in God for everything. We trusted him to take care of our illnesses and heal us,' he told KVAL.
Social workers removed the other six children, who range in age from infant to 17, from the Bellews home.
It is unclear whether they will be returned to their parents, though a case worker said she believes they are 'safe' in the home. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...parents-avoid-jail-Austin-Sprout-16-dies.html

Disgusted

Revolted

Ashamed to be a human.

This boy could of had a life, all that was in his way was a 30 minute procedure. These "People" are not parents.

 

[bw92116]

It's murder, in my opinion. Guilty. Lock them away.

 

[bw92116]

One of the comments below the story says it all:

"I was raised in this religion. They claim "We trust in God for everything" except they don't. They go to dentists, optometrists, collect food stamps, unemployment, social security, buy home insurance, auto insurance, fire & flood insurance. They let their children die to prove trust in god while wearing glasses. Unbelievable."

 

[SLOPPYSECONDS]

unbelievable is default world plot lands continue awsums fa eons
if wanna plot lands listed so folk can a go OOH YAY! no problem

so

there go

thankyou

 

[Telstra]

worth having a pic for the parents

 

[gsdx]

It's murder, in my opinion. Guilty. Lock them away.

It's not murder. It's manslaughter. They didn't intend for the boy to die, but their actions (inactions?) caused his death and they are directly responsible. It will still put them in prison, but not for as long as a murder sentence.

 

[Ninja108]

I wonder if they will pray away any injuries or illnesses they get?

 

[gsdx]

The offenders were reckless, which means they were aware of the consequences of not seeking treatment.

No, they weren't. There was no doubt in their minds that God would fix it, and if He didn't, that was His intention in the first place. In other words, it was God's will. They had no say in the matter except to pray and hope that their prayers would be answered.

 

[gsdx]

Can't really say that for sure

It can be said when one understands the power of brainwashing. Sure, it might have happened to one other family member, but how many other family members were 'cured' by God?

 

[Beachguyj]

They should go to jail for 16 year each and pray they get out.


The reason these wackos have so many kids is so they can have a few spares if something goes wrong. Too bad They weren't bred out of existence via Darwin's laws.

I hope it runs in the family and their appendix burst too and they die a horrible painful death.

They should not be able to hide behind religion for torturing their child to death by not getting him medical health.

Yes they have been brainwashed into the cult, but they lack common sense.

 

[Corny]

Wouldn't the boy have been able to call 911 and get himself into the hospital? Not trying to protect those tragic wastes of human skin at all .. just wondering if the boy was too brainwashed to try or if he didn't have any chance because of the health care system ..

 

[FuryOfFirestorm]

Remember that old saying, "God helps those that help themselves"?

Makes me think about the parable about an old man stranded in a flood. He prayed to God for help. Shortly after, a man in a canoe offers to help. "Nope, I'll wait here for God to help me", said the old man, and he continued to pray. Later, a woman on a raft tells him to get on. "No thanks. God will save me" he said, and prayed some more. Finally, a rescue helicopter came. "Sir, you need to get on before the levees break!" The old man refused and kept praying.

A few minutes later, the levees broke and the old man drowned. He arrives in heaven and meets God. The old man asks, "Why didn't you save me?". God replies, "What? I tried to save you three times! I sent a guy in a canoe, a woman on a raft, and even a rescue chopper, but you refused all of them!".

 

[Just_Believe18]

At first I thought the sentence was too low, but then I read they had six other kids. I guess the 16 year-old was worth less, since he still had all those brothers and sisters from "good Christian breeding" to replace him with.

 

[MassRuss]

That's Christian Scientists for you.

The inspiration for the Metallica song "The God That Failed" came from James Hetfield's mother who refused cancer treatment.

We had a case like this in Maryland not too long ago about a boy who died from lack of treatment for a kidney infection.

Sometimes parents need to lose their rights, I'm sorry.

No appology needed. The parents should be prosecuted. I worked in a hospital for 28 years in NJ. We had a case or 2 of the Jehovahs against blood transfusions. The patients in both cases, took the blood.

The 30s actress Jean Harlow, whose mother was CS died for much the same reason. Clark Gable & William Powell (Harlow's ex) litterally took her from her home & rushed her to the hospital. Too late

 

[pat grimshaw]

Did the parents know that their child had a life-threatening illness? Or was it just an internal ache?

 

[frankfrank]

Probably as brainwashed as the nuts who left him to die.

I've had appendicitis. It's not the most pleasant feeling, but it isn't so terrible that you're kicking and screaming.

Of course yours was caught early enough to have it removed, and for you to fully recover. I would imagine that the advanced symptoms, after the point when people usually have the surgery, become more and more excruciating.

Yes, no doubt the boy was so brainwashed that he believed it was God's will for him to suffer.

If one fully believes in Creation, wouldn't they believe (or shouldn't they??) that God created some people who will go on to become doctors, etc.?

I hope their children are NEVER sent back to the prison they've been raised in.

 

[star-warrior]

That's Christian Scientists for you.

That's not right.

The couple, who had seven children before Austin Sprout's death, are members of the General Assembly and the Church of the First Born

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sects_in_the_Latter_Day_Saint_movement#Mormon_fundamentalist
"Breakaway Mormon upholding polygamy"

Split off from "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints", by founder Terrill R. Dalton

The Church of the Firstborn and the General Assembly of Heaven

The Church of the Firstborn and the General Assembly of Heaven was originally organized in Magna, Utah by former members of the LDS Church. It practices polygamy and the law of consecration. Its leader, Terrill R. Dalton, purports to be the Holy Ghost and the father of Jesus. However, the group may have declined in numbers after its relocation from Idaho to Montana and Dalton's arrest for (and conviction of) two counts of rape.

Am I sad a family of fundies have lost their child to their own stupidity? No, I am livid that they brain washed him into believing their idiocy in the first place and having him suffer for a week in agony before finally dying.

 

[DigitalFudge]

 

[rareboy]

Did the parents know that their child had a life-threatening illness? Or was it just an internal ache?

It doesn't fucking matter.

They sure as hell would have known when he started running a fever that they nneded to do something.

Do not excuse the parents over this.

If I were their God, I'd smite the shit out of them.

 

[Beachguyj]

Did the parents know that their child had a life-threatening illness? Or was it just an internal ache?

The parents didn't care how much pain he was in. They thought they could pray the pain away. That poor kids pain must have been at a 10 level for days. Severe pain is the body's way of telling you that something is wrong. There is only so long before the appendix ruptures and kills him.