I was a child called ‘It’. 30 years on, this is what happened next

Dave Pelzer now lives a quiet, joyful life, spending weekends with his young grandson at places like pumpkin patches and amusement rides. These simple moments leave him happily exhausted and deeply content.

Yet his past remains a constant presence. Decades of healing have not erased the memories that shaped him, even as he embraces the calm of his present life.

Thirty years ago, Pelzer shared his childhood story in A Child Called “It.” The memoir detailed severe neglect and abuse by his mother, who denied him even his name. At age 12, teachers intervened and removed him from the home, a moment he still refers to as his “Rescue Day.”

After escaping the abuse, Pelzer slowly rebuilt his life. He joined the US Air Force and spent many years writing before feeling ready to publish his experiences. When the book became a global bestseller, public attention followed.

That success also created tension within his family. Some relatives distanced themselves, while others disputed his version of events, leaving Pelzer caught between grief, truth, and loyalty.

The trauma also affected his personal relationships. He married three times and acknowledges missing parts of his son’s childhood due to frequent speaking engagements. Over time, he worked to rebuild trust and connection.

Today, Pelzer finds healing in routine and service. He enjoys cooking, values small traditions, continues volunteering, and remains focused on one goal above all else: ending the cycle of abuse.

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