Our hopes and dreams for our children are deeply felt by all parents. When we realize our children cannot fully achieve what we had hoped for them, it is a grief that tears at our hearts... The bottom line is that having children is just a toss of the dice. We all carry quite a few seeds for genetic disorders in our chromosomes.'

- from Chapter 1 of A Toss of the Dice

Told from a pediatrician's perspective, A Toss of the Dice reveals what it is like to diagnose and treat children with developmental problems. Natasha T. Hays uses stories from her pediatric practice to illustrate the challenges faced by children with different types of special needs, including autism, bipolar disorder, genetic syndromes, cerebral palsy, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and giftedness.

In this highly readable book, Hays combines stories of inspirational children with useful medical information and treatment options. A Toss of the Dice shows the human perspective of the interaction between doctor and patient. It informs parents, teachers, doctors and health professionals as well as the general reader.