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Justice for Laughing Boy: Connor Sparrowhawk - A Death by Indifference
On July 4th 2013, Connor Sparrowhawk, also known as Laughing Boy or LB, was found dead in a specialist NHS unit. Connor, who had autism and epilepsy, had a seizure while in the bath and no member of staff was on hand to stop him from drowning. An entirely preventable death.Sara Ryan presents a frank, sometimes funny and touching account of her son's early life and preventable death and the unfolding #JusticeforLB campaign. This serves as a wake-up call to all of us and can we really claim that we respect the life and dignity of learning disabled people?
274 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 27, 2017
7 people are currently reading
63 people want to read
About the author
Sara Ryan
39 books194 followersI write books and comics for teens and others. Reviews and star ratings make me anxious, but I'm reporting what I read here.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 7, 2017
How can I "rate" this book? My friend's son (aged 18) died in an NHS assessment unit in 2013 and this is her journey since then...brick walls and abuse at every stage in a search for any sort of justice, explanation or corporate remorse.
The facts are heartbreaking on every level in their telling. However it was the imagined conversations Sara had with her dead son throughout the process that hit every raw nerve and completely blindsided me.
The facts are heartbreaking on every level in their telling. However it was the imagined conversations Sara had with her dead son throughout the process that hit every raw nerve and completely blindsided me.
November 1, 2017
I hate this book! - in the sense that it needed to be written in the first place.
I had not long started working in the same department as Sara at the university of oxford when Connor died, whilst not really knowing her well personally, I had recently returned to work myself after the death of my dad, and her story really touched my already fragile heart and emotional state. Like a lot of other people, I think I knew the basic details of what happened, and dipped in and out of blogs etc etc. My eyes have truly been opened to what she and her entire family faced, and more than I already was, I am in awe of what an amazingly strong woman she is (also becoming a parent for the first time a year ago gives a whole new, heart-wrenching perspective on this).
You would be forgiven for thinking that this was a fictional story, it certainly takes some believing that something so tragic could happen, and almost as tragically the crap endured by Sara and her family for the years that followed!
Whilst deeply tragic, Sara also manages to make you smile, and even laugh in places, as well as a few revelations / musings that send a cold shiver down your spine.
What an amazing young man Connor was, and I really enjoyed getting to know him in this book. Like so many people before me have said, what a waste of an awesome life of a great ‘dude’
Well done Sara, you are an inspiration, and I hope I can be half as good a mother to my son as you. What a fight you put up for justice for your cub, I am so deeply sorry that you had to go through any of this.
Read this book if you read nothing else this year.
I had not long started working in the same department as Sara at the university of oxford when Connor died, whilst not really knowing her well personally, I had recently returned to work myself after the death of my dad, and her story really touched my already fragile heart and emotional state. Like a lot of other people, I think I knew the basic details of what happened, and dipped in and out of blogs etc etc. My eyes have truly been opened to what she and her entire family faced, and more than I already was, I am in awe of what an amazingly strong woman she is (also becoming a parent for the first time a year ago gives a whole new, heart-wrenching perspective on this).
You would be forgiven for thinking that this was a fictional story, it certainly takes some believing that something so tragic could happen, and almost as tragically the crap endured by Sara and her family for the years that followed!
Whilst deeply tragic, Sara also manages to make you smile, and even laugh in places, as well as a few revelations / musings that send a cold shiver down your spine.
What an amazing young man Connor was, and I really enjoyed getting to know him in this book. Like so many people before me have said, what a waste of an awesome life of a great ‘dude’
Well done Sara, you are an inspiration, and I hope I can be half as good a mother to my son as you. What a fight you put up for justice for your cub, I am so deeply sorry that you had to go through any of this.
Read this book if you read nothing else this year.
October 13, 2024
A devastating read that truly hits home the inability of the state to meet the needs of people with learning disabilities and differences, and their ferocious desire to cover their back when the unthinkable happens, and someone dies in a preventable way. I hate so much that some people are seen as ‘less deserving’ in society and I hate that this happened to Conor (and to others like him). Everyone’s life is just as important as the next, and this story showed how it is possible to fight back and to speak truth to power, even when you shouldn’t ever have to, and when the systems are set up in such a way that makes it almost impossible to. I will be incorporating this into some of my teaching. Thank you Sara Ryan for writing this - Conor sounds like he was a beautiful soul xxxx
October 1, 2017
A most important book for anyone with a heart. From the opening page, of which I don't think I have read a better one, albeit heart breaking I could hear LB's voice the whole time. A story of a beautiful life denied by those who think they know better. Please everyone read and listen.
February 28, 2018
Wow what an amazing, but shocking read! So sad that it ever had to be written in the first place, but so glad Sara did.
Personally, it was a real eye opener for me. You hear things in the media about how people with learning disabilties often get let down and neglected by the system but never did I think it could be this bad. I think its terrible how Connor got let down by the system when all the family ever wanted was to do the best for Connor. Unfortunately the decision the family made was the wrong one, but it shouldnt have been! Understandably, the family thought the unit would be a helpful and a supportive unit for both Connor and his family. However, the outcome was the complete opposite which is just wrong. If the unit cant provide what it aims to do then it shouldn't have stayed open! I know this is much easier said then done, but it just shows what devastating outcomes it can lead to.
I think its amazing what Sara and her family have done since the death of her son such as the #justiceforlbcampaign. Its a great way to raise awareness to the public and to help fight justice for her son. I will be sure that I keep updated with the campaign, as well as regularly reading Sara's blogs that she writes.
Everyone should read this book as way of gaining the truth on how to often individuals with disabilities are let down and neglected on a regular basis. Connor sounded an amazing lad and did not deserve the bad treatment he was given. RIP Connor.
Personally, it was a real eye opener for me. You hear things in the media about how people with learning disabilties often get let down and neglected by the system but never did I think it could be this bad. I think its terrible how Connor got let down by the system when all the family ever wanted was to do the best for Connor. Unfortunately the decision the family made was the wrong one, but it shouldnt have been! Understandably, the family thought the unit would be a helpful and a supportive unit for both Connor and his family. However, the outcome was the complete opposite which is just wrong. If the unit cant provide what it aims to do then it shouldn't have stayed open! I know this is much easier said then done, but it just shows what devastating outcomes it can lead to.
I think its amazing what Sara and her family have done since the death of her son such as the #justiceforlbcampaign. Its a great way to raise awareness to the public and to help fight justice for her son. I will be sure that I keep updated with the campaign, as well as regularly reading Sara's blogs that she writes.
Everyone should read this book as way of gaining the truth on how to often individuals with disabilities are let down and neglected on a regular basis. Connor sounded an amazing lad and did not deserve the bad treatment he was given. RIP Connor.
October 19, 2019
As someone who worked in Adult Safeguarding in Mental Health I had followed in the news the sad death of Connor Sparrowhawk and was astounded at the time how badly Southern Health responded to this tragedy. Because I had followed these events I almost didn't bother to read this book but am so pleased I eventually did.
This book is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. I now have a sense of who Connor was which in turn makes his unnecessary death more tragic. The book gives some insight into the impact on his family of his death and impressed me with their strength and tenacity in battling organisational systems that consider people with learning disabilities less important and perhaps less human.
Southern Healths attempts to minimise Connors death, to shift blame on to his mother and a failure to even apologise is astounding and troubling when you consider this is one example of hundreds of similar events.
This book will make you cry, make you angry and make you smile. It may even change you!
This book is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. I now have a sense of who Connor was which in turn makes his unnecessary death more tragic. The book gives some insight into the impact on his family of his death and impressed me with their strength and tenacity in battling organisational systems that consider people with learning disabilities less important and perhaps less human.
Southern Healths attempts to minimise Connors death, to shift blame on to his mother and a failure to even apologise is astounding and troubling when you consider this is one example of hundreds of similar events.
This book will make you cry, make you angry and make you smile. It may even change you!
October 18, 2021
Heartbreaking. As a mother of a young person with Autism and Learning disabilities, I have followed Sara's blog for a long while,so reading the book I was familiar already with the horrendous journey this family had in front of them, after their darling son died in an NHS unit where he should have been safe and well looked after. The reality was anything but. He was not looked after, and died as a result of the worst possible 'care'. Horrifying and tragic. My heart goes out to this family and every other family who have also lost their precious children at the hands of a system that quite frankly didn't listen and seemingly didn't give a damn :(
April 30, 2018
I cried, and laughed at times, and cried a lot more. As a social worker working with people with learning disabilities this is a really really difficult read. Heartbreaking, raw and so incredibly sad. But so important. I'm not really sure how to review such a personal story, but I'm so grateful that it exists. Thank you Sara.
February 24, 2021
This changed the way I viewed advocacy and gave a heart breaking incite into disability politics. Many tears for the realistic and horrific treatment/neglect at in-pacient faccilities for those with learning disabilities. the highlight of the book for me was about the bus and the hope, love and outrage that the situation inspired.
March 27, 2018
The speed at which I finished this book is testament to how difficult it is to put down. You share in the author's frustration throughout and are willing for a happy ending - though you know there isn't going to be one.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews