A dog called Endal : how one extraordinary dog brought a family back from the brink

The remarkable story of Endal and how, through his remarkable skills, companionship and unstinting devotion, he gave Allen Parton a reason to live again. Allen Parton suffered a serious head injury while serving in the Gulf War and returned home unable to walk, talk or remember most of his life. He couldn't even remember his wife Sandra or their two children. After five years of intensive therapy and rehabilitation, he was still severely disabled and unable to talk. He was also angry and bitter at the hand life had dealt him. Sandra was a nurse so thought she would be able to help her husband, but the Allen who returned wasn't the man she knew. Determined to be strong, Sandra knew she would have to fight to keep her family together. And then Allen had a chance encounter with Endal – a Labrador puppy who had failed his training as an assistance dog. Endal had problems of his own until he 'adopted' Allen and Sandra, and finally gave Allen the ability to start living again. This is the incredible story of Allen, his wife Sandra, and the amazing dog that changed their world and gave them back their family. "Navy officer Allen Parton suffered a severe head injury while serving in the Gulf War. It left him confined to a wheelchair, unable to talk or to remember most of his life. He didn't recognize his two children; he didn't remember his wife. He'd lost his past and his future--and the ability to feel any emotion. Sandra was a nurse, so thought she would be able to help her husband, but the Allen who had returned couldn't cope with what life had dealt him. After five years of rehabilitation, he was still severly disabled. Endal was a Labrador puppy with problems of his own--he was failing his training to be an assistance dog and needed a home. But all that changed when he 'adopted' Allen and Sandra. Endal saved Allen's life and his marriage, and brought him back to his children. This is the remarkable true story of their incredible bond."--Back cover