Visually impaired boy had given up after continuous bullying — until two cops changed his world
Trigger warning: This story contains themes of suicide that some readers may find distressing.
The repercussions of bullying are more severe than people can imagine and are something no one should experience. A 15-year-old boy named Victor Giron was struggling when he was being severely bullied, per CBS News. The boy was visually impaired and had been drowning in the harsh trauma of bullying when he decided he couldn’t take it anymore. The boy was about to take some drastic measures and fortunately, Denver police officers Monique Sedberry and Alicia Martinez intervened. They knew they were dealing with something that was very delicate and hurtful and took a cautious approach to turn things around for the boy.
Many experts have stressed the brutality of bullying, per GR8 AS U R. Martin Bell OBE, British UNICEF Ambassador, noted, “Bullying casts a shadow over our schoolrooms and playing fields. It is evil and can inflict lasting damage on the children who are its victims.” Justin Irwin, the former director of Childline, added, “Bullying is a scourge of our society that affects too many children and young people and unnecessarily ruins lives.” The 15-year-old felt devastated by the bullying he’d been dealing with. When hot glue was poured on his hand as another ruthless prank, he decided that he couldn’t go on any longer.
“This was one of the tougher calls,” Officer Sedberry said. She mentioned that the boy’s teacher had called 911, explaining his situation and that he wanted to end his life. The sad news got to the officers and they knew they had to do more than just get him immediate help. Giron was taken to a psychiatric hospital and treated and the officers made him a promise. They assured the boy that he would have good friends going forward and went above and beyond to become his friends, too. This included showing up at his classes, visiting him often and much more. The boy became family — a “little brother” to the officers. His smile revealed that he was beyond delighted to have them step in.
“Anytime I wanted to talk, they would answer,” he said, feeling relieved. He eventually shifted his school and got better with time and the support of the officers. “His demeanor was so much better,” Officer Sedberry said. With years gone by, he is still grateful for having the officer show up that day. Giron went on to become a certified nurse and author. He wrote a book titled “Above and Beyond: How Two Police Officers Saved My Life,” highlighting his life story and how the officers made a difference. In a post on Facebook, he shared that his book was recommended on Author Spotlights.
In another post, he shared his second book titled “Different and Proud: A Story About Standing Up to Bullies.” “This book is incredibly special to me because it was inspired by my own experiences with bullying. I wrote it with the hope of encouraging children to embrace their differences, find their inner strength and learn how to stand up for themselves with confidence and courage,” he wrote. Thanks to the kindness of two strangers, the boy received a new life and is now living to make a fantastic difference.
If you are experiencing a suicidal crisis or emotional distress, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24/7 free and confidential emotional support at 1-800-273-8255 (Veterans, press 1).