what a sweet, lovely story, lisa. I'm glad you shared it with us.
Mag
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http://www.zazzle.com/TamarMag*
Tamar Mag Raine
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www.cafepress.com/tamarmag
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----- Original Message ----
From: "[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Wednesday, November 28, 2007 3:41:10 AM
Subject: Elizabeth and Her Dog
I haven't posted in a long time but I don't want to drop out of this group
because your words were so helpful in my struggle to help my daughter
Elizabeth. Some of you may remember that her struggle ended in 2006 (during a
seizure). I read what is being done to help cerebral palsy. I remember reading that
the cells in a child's baby teeth may help some day. Save those teeth!
Anyway, I have just written a short children's story about Elizabeth if anyone is
interested in reading on (and I would love to know if any of you have a dog
that is helpful with your child/you):
“Elizabeth and the Dog that Understood”
by
Lisa Saunders
There once was a girl who didn’t walk, didn’t talk and didn’t even feed
herself. She didn’t move at all--except to smile. And she smiled about
everything! She smiled when her sister brushed her long, brown hair, she smiled when
her father pushed her along a bumpy, gravel path in her big stroller, and she
smiled when her mother drove her around in the red convertible with the top
down. She even smiled when she had her hair cut short so it could be donated
to a sick child who had lost her own. In fact, she smiled so much her teacher
gave her a “Best Smiling” award at school.
The girl’s name was Elizabeth and she had cerebral palsy—her muscles just
didn’t work. Everyone liked her because she never said anything unkind, yet
no one knew what she was really thinking. She was mysterious! But sometimes
Elizabeth wished that she wasn’t so mysterious, that she had a true
companion--one who could understand her, or at least sit beside her on the couch to
keep her company.
Then one day, Elizabeth’s mother called the animal shelter and told the
keeper, “I have a daughter who can’t play with a frisky dog. I would like an
older, lazy one who wants to lie on the couch all day. Do you have one like
that?”
“Ma'am, I not only have a couch potato here, but he’s the whole sack of
potatoes!” The dog’s name was Riley. His owner had left him at the animal
shelter because he couldn’t take care of him anymore. Elizabeth’s mother brought
him home and patted the couch, letting him know he could jump up on it next
to Elizabeth. So he did just that.
Riley was big and hairy. Even though he was only five years old, he weighed
100 pounds. Even though Elizabeth was 11, she weighed only 40! Riley looked
like a clumsy old black bear next to Elizabeth, but he was gentle. He knew how
to jump on the couch and find a spot without stepping on her.
Although Elizabeth and Riley were very different on the outside, they seemed
to be alike on the inside--they both loved to sit on the couch and watch
cartoons. The only problem was that neither one could talk, or operate the
remote control, so they had to wait for Elizabeth’s family to change the channels.
Riley would curl up next to Elizabeth for hours, and never leave her to do
silly things like wash the dishes as her mother did. He didn’t leave her to
mow the lawn or do homework. And Riley was happy that Elizabeth didn’t run off
to play with others—especially when there was a thunderstorm. Riley was
terrified when loud cracks and grumbles charged into their quiet neighborhood, but
Elizabeth wasn’t. She especially smiled when the thunder came so close that
it made the couch shake. Riley felt safe snuggled beside her.
But Elizabeth WAS afraid of the cold--she couldn't keep herself warm like
other children who could jump up and down or ask for a warmer blanket. Since
Riley had two coats of fur, one short and thick, one longer and shaggy, he wasn
’t afraid of the cold at all. One day, the temperature dropped slightly and
Elizabeth's little feet began to turn purple. Riley understood what was
happening. Without being told what to do, he carefully laid across them. His
weight and warmth made Elizabeth feel so good she smiled. Riley was glad--he not
only had a couch, but he had someone who needed him. And Elizabeth's family
was happy too—she finally had a companion who understood her.
End note: Elizabeth and Riley grew older together on the couch for several
years. Then one day, Elizabeth passed away. Riley was never truly happy after
that and he passed away a year later. His ashes were spread over Elizabeth’s
grave—now they are forever keeping each other company.
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