Too Hurt To Stay

A Child Caught in Chaos. A Foster Carer’s Fight for Hope.

Too Hurt To Stay by Casey Watson, published by Harper Element in 2012, is a deeply moving true story from the bestselling foster carer and author known for her emotional honesty and unwavering compassion. In this heart-wrenching account, Casey opens her home—and heart—to a boy no one else seems able to reach.

When seven-year-old Spencer arrives at Casey’s door, it's clear that something is terribly wrong. Withdrawn, anxious, and plagued by mysterious medical complaints, Spencer has been in and out of care for years, bounced between homes that couldn’t cope with his complex needs. Social services believe he’s suffering from emotional trauma—but as Casey delves deeper, a more disturbing picture begins to emerge.

With patience, kindness, and fierce determination, Casey works to uncover the truth behind Spencer’s pain. But helping him means facing resistance, suspicion, and a system that doesn’t always see what she does: a frightened child crying out for help.

Too Hurt To Stay is a powerful testament to the resilience of children and the incredible strength of those who fight for them. Raw, real, and profoundly affecting, it’s a must-read for anyone moved by stories of survival and hope.