Don't know why the lady's father left her at 8 and never returned.  But, my mom walked out when I was 4, my dad kicked his butt to raise us with no support at all from my mom or the system, he died when I was 19, then my mom tried to contact me when I was in the service and 22 years old.  I had zero desire to see her.  She really wasn't a mother to us.  My dad was both parents.  He earned my love.  She earned my disrespect.