Elle & Coach: Diabetes, the Fight for My Daughter's Life, and the Dog Who Changed Everything

by Stefany Shaheen, Mark Dagostino

Overview

NEW YORK TIMES Bestseller

"This book will inspire and encourage countless parents and children around the country. I loved it."---Hillary Rodham Clinton

Elle & Coach is the true story of a Type-A mom struggling to care for a daughter who has Type 1 diabetes and of the incredible service dog who changes their lives for the better.

Stefany Shaheen tries everything to manage her daughter Elle's deadly and unpredictable disease. Overcoming the skepticism that a dog can provide answers that medical science is still seeking, the family finds a resounding sense of peace and reassurance through Coach's near miraculous abilities as a medic-alert dog, specially trained to detect dangerous changes in blood sugar levels.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316258746
Publisher:	Hachette Books
Publication date:	08/25/2015
Sold by:	Hachette Digital, Inc.
Format:	NOOK Book
Sales rank:	1,035,585
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Stefany Shaheen has dedicated herself to making life better for people living with diabetes. A Harvard graduate, she launched a company to help those with chronic conditions better manage eating and exercise. She is on the Board of Trustees at Joslin Diabetes Center, served as the National Chair for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Children's Congress, and currently serves on the Foundation's Research and Advocacy Committee. She is a key spokesperson for her mother, Jeanne Shaheen, U.S. Senator and former New Hampshire Governor, and currently serves on the City Council for the City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where she and her husband, Craig Welch, live with their four children.

Mark Dagostino is a New York Times bestselling co-author, and a former Senior Writer for People magazine. He also lives in New Hampshire.

Table of Contents

Preface: First Glimpse vii

Chapter 1 The Diagnosis 1

Chapter 2 Making Room 21

Chapter 3 Work 39

Chapter 4 Trials and Errors 48

Chapter 5 Darkness 71

Chapter 6 Pressing Paws 82

Chapter 7 A Distant Howl 103

Chapter 8 Lessons Learned 112

Chapter 9 Flying Coach 123

Chapter 10 Little Miracles 162

Chapter 11 Coach's Spotlight 180

Chapter 12 Dog Fight 190

Chapter 13 Center Stage 206

Chapter 14 Super Dog 215

Afterword 223

Acknowledgments 227

Reading Group Guide 229

What People are Saying About This

Dean Kamen

In addition to being a great read, the story of Elle & Coach will open eyes to the very real struggle of life with type 1 diabetes, and may well change the conversations we have about how to make lives better while we work toward better treatments and ultimately a cure. --Dean Kamen, inventor and Founder of DEKA

Jodi Picoult

ELLE AND COACH is a must-read---not just for parents of children with chronic illnesses, but for any parent who's ever wished to make life easier for a child who is struggling with something daunting. As the mom of a son who faced multiple surgeries during his childhood, I was deeply moved by Elle's experiences -- and inspired by the beacon of hope that her service dog provides. I have a feeling this book is going to change a lot of lives for the better. ----Jodi Picoult, New York Times-bestselling author of MY SISTER'S KEEPER and LEAVING TIME

Editorial Reviews

"This book will inspire and encourage countless parents and children around the country. I loved it."—Hillary Rodham Clinton


"This book is much more than a heartwarming story about a triumphant little girl and her amazing dog. It's a book about never giving up hope."—Michael J. Fox

"Elle & Coach is a must-read—not just for parents of children with chronic illnesses, but for any parent who's ever wished to make life easier for a child who is struggling with something daunting. As the mom of a son who faced multiple surgeries during his childhood, I was deeply moved by Elle's experiences—and inspired by the beacon of hope that her service dog provides. I have a feeling this book is going to change a lot of lives for the better."—Jodi Picoult


"Discover how this remarkable animal has brought hope and relief to a family in need."—People Magazine


"Coach...has engendered confidence that Elle will live a life based on her dreams not her disease."—The Boston Globe


"Here's to this unstoppable team and inspiring story of survival."—Parents Magazine (Parenting.com)


"In addition to being a great read, the story of Elle & Coach will open eyes to the very real struggle of life with type 1 diabetes, and may well change the conversations we have about how to make lives better while we work toward better treatments and ultimately a cure."—Dean Kamen


"Lassie pales by comparison to this pooch, who sleeps in Elle's bed, accompanies her to school, appears in a play with her, and nudges her or her parents if she needs to check her blood sugar. Parents of kids with special needs will find Shaheen's passionate advocacy informative and inspiring."—Booklist


"This book is about finding hope in the most unlikely of places."—Modern Dog Magazine


"It's a universal story of parental devotion, overcoming adversity and letting go."—New Hampshire Union Leader

From the Publisher

08/01/2015
Receiving a diagnosis of diabetes is traumatic for most adults; much more so for a child. New Hampshire-based councilwoman Shaheen tells of the impact that such a diagnosis for her eight-year-old daughter Elle had on their family. Determined to learn all she can about diabetes, the author focuses on discovering ways to find relief from the seemingly endless fear and anxiety that accompanies a chronic illness. Her resolve has borne fruit in that she is the cofounder and CEO of Good Measures, a company that develops online tools and services to help people manage their health. During the family struggle to cope, they uncovered a new and growing recognition of the role dogs play in the detection and monitoring of human health conditions. Enter a medic-alert Labrador retriever named Coach. The bond between Elle and Coach is amazing, and the relief and comfort it provides to both Elle and her family is nothing short of miraculous, giving testament to the benefit and power of the human-animal bond. VERDICT Strongly recommended for its insight into coping with the consequences of diabetes and inspiration to turn a negative for one into a positive for many.—Edell Marie Schaefer, Brookfield P.L., WI

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