Ella’s Gift

About the Book

This is a simple story of the magical bond between humans and animals. A pet therapy dog, Ella, demonstrates that empathy, compassion, and unconditional love are sometimes the best medicine of all. When there is so much we do not know or understand, Ella’s Gift provides an opportunity for children and their caregivers to begin a healthy dialogue about life and what comes after. Whether on this earth or in some other dimension, it is the love we leave behind and the love we take with us that is the one, sure thing.

About the Author

Music Therapist, Grief Counselor, Actor, Singer, Comedienne, Director, Producer, Corporate Executive and now Author, Ida Zecco and her pet therapy partner, Ella, serve children who are critically ill with both comfort and love. While specializing in pediatric oncology, working with both children and caretakers, Ida and Ella also provide literacy therapy for grammar school children who require some level of remedial support to improve their reading and communication skills. Ida has worked for hospice organizations for over 30 years and as a grief counselor for AIDS Action Committee, and the Dana Faber Cancer Institute in Boston, MA; AIDS Project Worcester; and Hope Hospice and Palliative Care of RI and MA. She and Ella are credentialed through the DJPPT Program at CCRI and members of Windwalkers Humane Coalition of RI. Ida has a daughter Lauren, and two grandsons, Anthony and Dominick. They reside in RI, as well do Ida’s six sisters and their families.