'Still Dancing' tells Gabe Ford's journey from seclusion to nationally-known speaker
by Eric Fish | The Flint Journal
Wednesday June 24, 2009, 8:45 AM
FENTON, Michigan -- Gabrielle Ford hopes when people read her book, "Still Dancing," they'll laugh and be entertained. Above all, she hopes readers will be moved by her life story.
Ford, 29, of Fenton is a nationally recognized public speaker who visits schools around the country speaking about the long-term effects of bullying. Ford knows this from personal experience -- she was diagnosed with Friedreich's ataxia, a neuromuscular disease, at the age of 12, causing her speech to slur and limiting her mobility.
"Still Dancing" was released this month and covers everything from Ford's life as a child, to experiencing teasing and insults related to her disease in high school, to how she befriended her loyal coonhound companion Izzy and started public speaking.
"I didn't want to do anything related with speaking," Ford said. "Basically anything in public, I kind of shied away from. It was Izzy that brought me out into the public."
Ford was forced to care for Izzy and accompany her to veterinarian appointments when it was discovered that the dog had muscular dystrophy -- a symptom common to Ford's neuromuscular disease. A feature on Animal Planet helped launch Ford's speaking career.
"Many kids have been bullied, and there are many kids that are diagnosed with various diseases, but there's only one Izzy dog," said Rhonda Hillman, Ford's mother. "I think that's what makes Gabe's story so unique. They both had the muscle disease, they both understood each other, they both leaned on each other."
Izzy died at age 9 in May.
In addition to Ford and Izzy's story, the book contains pictures and letters from children. Ford hopes to eventually follow "Still Dancing" by writing children's books on anti-bullying.
Ford will be on hand Saturday at the Fenton Community Center following the Freedom Festival parade to sign copies of "Still Dancing." Copies can also be purchased through her Web site or by calling Hillman and Ford at (810) 373-4043. The book will be available in major book stores in September. Books ordered through the Web site will come autographed by Ford.
