Phoenix Children's Hospital sees rise in child abuse cases

PHOENIX - At Phoenix Children’s Hospital, there is a display which serves as a reminder of the lives lost to child abuse.

The display matches tiny pairs of shoes with letters written by parents, police officers, nurses and other caretakers who have been witnesses of tragedy because of child abuse and maltreatment.

“There are children in the state of Arizona who are being hurt every day,” said Nicole Schuren, who is part of the hospital's trauma forensics team made up of four doctors and two social workers.

The team is always there when a child shows up at the hospital.

“Some children are being abused chronically," said Schuren. "So they get kicked, they get bit. We see all of this,” she said after checking in on a little girl who seriously injured.

Schuren said more and more children are showing up with signs of abuse.

Many of them come in with fracture bones, whether it's in the head, arms and legs.

Worst of all, more and more are dying from their injuries.

In 2010, Phoenix Children’s Hospital reported eight deaths because of child abuse or maltreatment.

That is a jump from three death cases in 2008.

Last year, Phoenix Children’s reported 456 cases of abuse to Child Protective Services.

“Child abuse is a big problem,” said Dr. Stephanie Zimmerman, a doctor with the forensic team. "It's not something people like to think about. It's not something people like to talk about. And it's not something anyone wants to believe happens. But it does happen."

“It's not always this terrible person who is doing this," Schuren said. "Sometimes people just snap and it's in one second that something awful can happen."

“Nobody should have to hurt," Zimmerman added. "And some of these kids are so broken when they come in here and by the time they leave hospital they're like a new person."