DEAR concerned parent. Could you explain why you had to come out with such a heartless comment about why you thought it so wrong for Dean Hassell to have a collection by his school friends for a laptop so in time he would be able to carry on with his schoolwork?

What do you suggest we do? Forget about him because he did the most stupid of pranks that went terribly wrong? He has the rest of his life to ponder on how stupid he has been.

You say you're a parent. Well, put yourself in their shoes for one minute. Would you want people to give up on your child, depriving him of her of a laptop?

We as parents (myself now the grandparent of a 10-year-old boy) can only hope and pray that our children go through life unscathed. My heart goes out to Dean and his family. I hope he has a speedy recovery and I wish him and his family all the luck in the world. I hope these sentiments help in some way to make Dean's family feel a little better and for them to see that not all people are heartless.

As for said concerned parent, you should hang your head in shame. It's a pity you could not put your efforts into helping Dean and his family with even as much as a kind word. Thank God everyone is not like you.

A GUARDIAN READER