Stefany Shaheen - "Elle & Coach"
Come meet author Stefany Shaheen, her daughter Elle and her dog Coach as she introduces her new book, Elle & Coach, the story of a young girl’s optimism in the face of true hardship.
When her oldest daughter, eight-year-old Elle (pronounced “Ellie”), was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, Stefany Shaheen confronted a terrifying new reality: Without constant monitoring and treatment, Elle could face grim consequences, even death. So type-A mom Stefany committed herself to learning everything she could about managing her daughter’s unpredictable and life-threatening condition, all while trying to keep a sense of normalcy for the sake of her four children. After numerous hospital visits, a seizure, and various treatments—including an artificial pancreas trial—Elle and Stefany finally found relief in an adorable, four-legged companion. Stefany Shaheen’s inspirational and touching memoir, Elle & Coach: Diabetes, the Fight for My Daughter’s Life, and the Dog Who Changed Everything, co-authored by Mark Dagostino, is the true story of a family in need, a mother’s love for her daughter, and the power of the animal-human connection. Most of all, this book is about finding hope in the unlikeliest of places.
Elle’s life was dramatically and instantaneously changed the moment she was diagnosed. Her family’s world was suddenly consumed by testing blood sugar levels, pricking tiny fingers with a needle eight to ten times per day, and administering precise doses of insulin, since too much or too little can be dangerous and even deadly. When everything seemed to be going well, Elle would sometimes suffer dangerously low drops in blood sugar levels while she slept, for no apparent reason—forcing Stefany to stay awake to test her in the middle of the night. The stress of a chronic illness took its toll on the entire family as Elle, a vibrant young girl who refuses to be defined or limited by this disease, lent herself to the fight to find a cure—a journey that brought her face-to-face with top scientists and doctors through clinical trials, and all the way to the White House. After years of enduring these routines, Stefany was desperate to find a better way for her daughter.
Enter an adorable, hardworking, medic-alert dog named Coach. Overcoming the initial skepticism that a dog might provide answers that medical science is still seeking, the family found a resounding sense of peace and reassurance through Coach’s amazing ability to alert Elle of dangerous changes in her blood sugar levels before she feels symptoms and before her own medical equipment could detect the changes.
An extraordinary testament of a mother’s love and advocacy for her child, Elle & Coach tells the story of a young girl’s optimism in the face of true hardship. A book that any parent will love, it is a moving, must-read book for anyone learning to live with chronic illness or to overcome any kind of adversity.
*This event is free and open to the public. To enter the signing line at this event, attendees must have purchased Elle & Coach from Wellesley Books.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Stefany Shaheen has dedicated herself to making life better for people living with diabetes. A Harvard University graduate, she launched a company to help those with chronic conditions better manage eating and exercising. She is the daughter of U.S. senator and former New Hampshire governor Jeanne Shaheen, and she currently lives with her husband and four children in New Hampshire.
Mark Dagostino is a New York Times bestselling co-author and a former senior writer for People magazine. He also lives in New Hampshire.