SSR - Z Smith 10/2 - English Ms. Buys

I'm reading a book by Dave Pelzer called "A Child Called It." The book is so hard to read because the abuse of this poor kid is just wrong. I'm reading where the mom stabs the boy named David in the stomach and he's sent to the garage to let his wound heal on its own. Somehow David's wound does heal. I would think he would have died. He did not die. His mother treated him more horribly as each chapter goes on. His mother made him clean the bathroom with a mix of ammonia and bleach. This is a deadly mixture. David would be forced into a small room to clean and be choked of breath to the point of near death. I cannot understand how someone can treat a child or another person like this - ever.