My name is Lauren Archer, my son Kevin and I
           lived in Midrand.  On October 2, 1999 I took my
           only son to McDonald's for his 3rd birthday.
           After he finished lunch, I allowed him to play
           in the ball pit.   When he started whining
           later on, I asked him what was wrong, he
           pointed to the back of his pull-up and simply
           said "Mommy, it hurts." But I couldn't  find
           anything wrong with him at that time.

           I bathed him when we got home, and it was at
           that point when I found a welt on his left
           buttock.  Upon investigating, it seemed as if
           there was something like a splinter under the
           welt. I made an appointment to have it taken
           out the next day, but soon he started vomiting
           and shaking, then his eyes rolled back into his
           head.  From there, we went to the emergency
           room. He died later that night.  It turned out
           that the welt on his buttock was the tip of a
           hypodermic needle that had broken off inside.
           The autopsy revealed that Kevin had died from
           heroine overdose.

           The next week, the police removed the balls
           from the ball pit and lo and behold. There was
           rotten food, several hypodermic needles: some
           full; some used; knives, half-eaten candy,
           diapers, feces, and the stench of urine. If a
           child is not safe in a child's play area then
           where?

           You can find the article on Kevin Archer in the
           October 10, 1999 issue of the Midrand
           Chronicle. Please forward this to all loving
           mothers, grandmothers, etc.!