This is the story of a mother�s humorous and moving search for one pet to suit two very different daughters-one a tomboy, the other mentally and physically disabled from the # 1 birth defects virus, congenital CMV (cytomegalovirus). Lisa Saunders says �no� to her daughter Jackie�s pleas for a dog, fearing it will be too rambunctious around Jackie�s disabled little sister Elizabeth. But she does make her a promise she thinks will never come to pass: �If God brings a dog to our door, then you can have it.� In the meantime, the family wrestles with a series of dysfunctional pets: a flesh-eating hamster, an attack cat, killer ants and a very stinky rabbit. Then one day, the unexpected happens: a shivering, dirty puppy shows up at their door. But is this dog really Heaven-sent?
Plus:
The latest news on how to prevent the far-reaching but under-reported effects of congenital CMV, the #1 viral cause of birth defects-more common a cause of disabilities than Down syndrome. It also contains highly useful sections with Resources, Contacts and Support for anyone whose life is touched by CMV.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lisa Saunders is the author of Ride a Horse, Not an Elevator and Ever True: A Union Private and His Wife, and she is a writer for the State University of New York at Rockland Community College. She speaks at universities, libraries and clubs about writing and publishing, and performs her play, Ever True: A Civil War Love Story, which is based on her ancestor�s Civil War letters. She is the Congenital CMV Foundation parent representative and a graduate of Cornell University. Lisa and her husband, Jim, reside in Suffern, New York, with their beagle/basset hound. Visit Lisa at http://www.authorlisasaunders.com/

ABOUT THE CONGENITAL CMV Association:

Established in 1986 and based out of the United Kingdom. The group is run on a voluntary basis by parents of children affected by cCMV. We offer support, information, advice and contact with other families. We publish a regular newsletter and information sheets. We are active in spreading awareness about CMV and our member�s aid professionals with research and medical projects. Visit them at http://www.cmvsupport.org/