In southwestern France, a 9-year-old boy was abandoned by his mother and left to fend for himself in their apartment for two years. Despite having no electricity or heat, the boy continued attending school unnoticed, earning a reputation as a good student. Neighbors occasionally provided him with food, unaware of his dire situation, as he survived on canned goods and tomatoes from a nearby balcony. At night, he used multiple comforters to stay warm.

His mother lived just 5 km away but rarely visited or provided for him. It wasn’t until months later that neighbors realized the boy was living alone and contacted authorities. In court, phone records confirmed the mother had abandoned him, despite her denials. She was sentenced to 18 months in prison, plus six months of electronic monitoring.Now in foster care, the boy has expressed no desire to reconnect with his mother, who has only visited him once. His resilience and determination to survive and continue his education through such hardship is remarkable, and we can only hope he finds the love and support he deserves moving forward.