Why would a parent do this?

I read that, too, and thought that they were very selfish. I don't think they're trying to help the child avoid pain, I think they're afraid they won't be able to help him handle it. So they're robbing him of knowing his grandparents for their own selfishness. Sparing a child sorrow is not going to improve his life! Sorrow is part of life; how can we know joy if we never know sadness? If I were the grandparents, I would contact a family court and find out a way to negotiate with the parents without taking them to court. That's so ridiculous.

that doesn't seem fair or nice on the parents part. is there more to the story perhaps? just think that if he had a relationship with him and they were good enough to babysit him then the grandfather should be able to see him. of course if what he has is contagiuous that is an entirely different story but i do not get that from what you wrote.

No its not fair to the child. I was a year old the last time I saw my grandmother on my dads side. I have no memory of her. when I was 17 I told my mom that I wanted to see her before she passed away. My mom said maybe when I move out of the house I could go see her. She never got along with her. Unfortunately she passed away three months before I moved out and I never got to see her. I wanted to meet her and see what she was like. this little boy should not be kept from them.