As he stood upright, looking straight into the commode, his mom just inches from his neck, David Pelzer was about to do something he didn’t understand. His mother, an alcoholic, had just forced him to eat frozen vegetables raw and now, he was to regurgitate the contents.

David is just one account of thousands of children who’ve experience neglect, abuse or maltreatment from caretakers, according to statistics from the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System.

The NCANDS said 899,000 children are victims of abuse or neglect, with about 12 out of every 1,000 children up to age 18 in the United States who are victims of maltreatment.

David is not a fictional character. In fact, he is the subject of his memoir, “A Child Called It.” David’s mom, who abused her son psychologically, physically and emotionally, hated him so much that she referred to him as “it” instead of by his name.

The Central Alabama Regional Advocacy Center, or CAC, is trying to do its part to protect those children in Dallas, Bibb, Hale, Perry and Wilcox counties, who are being abused, neglected and maltreated every day.

With April as Child Abuse and Prevention Month, the CAC and other members of the community released hundreds of blue and white balloons Tuesday, in honor of those children. I think awareness is a good thing, and those coldhearted people who take advantage of children, who are so innocent and so trusting, should be put to shame and punished.

David grew up to be a very successful businessman, husband and family man. He went on to write two more successful books, “The Lost Boy” and “A Man Named Dave.” Reading his first release, “A Child Called ‘It’” was a life changing, eye-opening experience. I encourage anyone that enjoys reading and has a heart for children to pick up the book and read it. Tell me what you think of it. It is sure to make you laugh, cry, angry and happy all at the same time. I’m pushing back the tears now as I’m typing!

Though David had a chance to overcome his abuse and become a productive citizen instead of a menace to society, scarred by life’s circumstances, many do not. Child abuse must stop and we must reach out to those children who are neglected, who are abused and who are crying for someone’s love and attention.

This month, wear blue to show you’re an advocate against child abuse. Wear blue to show you love a child and are there to protect, love and care for him or her. A child is waiting.