ENDAL: How one extraordinary dog brought a family back from the brink

(fluffyfeet.net)

ENDAL: How one extraordinary dog brought a family back from the brink.

I truly loved this book by Allen and Sandra Parton. It was a wonderful story of courage in the face of adversity. Sandra and Allen alternate writing chapters in this novel and so the story is heard from both points of view. Endal, a golden labrador comes into the life of Allen and Sandra and their family at a time when they needed it most and subsequently Endal saves their family from total destruction.

Allen was injured in an accident while on shore, during his time serving in the Navy in the Gulf War. His injuries cause some brain damage and other neurological damage and Allen subsequently ends up in a wheel chair. This story is about his struggle to come to terms with his injuries and the impact that they have on his life. It is also a story about the struggle that his wife Sandra and his children endure as the innocent victims of his injuries. Allen is a changed man and has lost all memory that he even has a wife and children.

Sandra is a strong woman, although I got the feeling as I read the book, that she didn't quite see herself in that way, everything that she has to deal with, holds onto her marriage and never gives up hope that things will improve. For a long time after his injuries Sandra and Allen live together as virtual strangers, as a family, but not as a family. They share the same house, but are not a family in the true sense of the word.

Endal gives Allen back his life and in turn his family. Endal is a wonderful story which I thoroughly enjoyed and found I could not put it down. I read it in 2 days. Read more about Endal here.