Fantastic story Lisa, I loved it.

Cheers

Deri

On Wednesday 28 November 2007 11:41:10 [log in to unmask] wrote:
> 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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