Changing the world one school at a time
By - Sarah Ward, Contributing Writer
(March 17, 2011) 
"Sticks
and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me"...not true.
Not true at all, as Gabrielle Ford and her devoted dog Dina stressed to
students when they visited Lakeland last week to share their story. Gabe
was diagnosed with Friedreich's Ataxia (a rare muscular disorder that
affects the muscles, heart, speech and gait) at the age of 12. Prior to
the diagnosis, Gabe was a typical preteen girl, participating in sports
and activities such as golf, soccer and dance, her favorite activity.
But Gabe began to notice that something was not quite right, she started
to lose her sense of balance, to stumble at times and her left foot
began turning out slightly.
It is hard enough facing the general challenges of being a preteen girl
as there are so many things to be concerned about, and changing schools
during this time proved to be yet another challenge confronting Gabe. At
her new school, she was met with more negative experiences than
positive ones. She experienced people knocking her books out of her
hands, being pushed, kicked and constantly teased. One boy in particular
bullied her on a daily basis. This torture continued, and Gabe told no
one. She figured it would simply stop one day. Finally, her mother
noticed bruises on her legs and asked Gabe where they came from. She
tried to fib about it at first, but her mother persisted and eventually
the truth came out. Gabe and her mother promptly scheduled a visit with
the principal, and from there, the situation became somewhat diffused.
The bully and Gabe eventually found a way to get along, but it was not a
typical friendship, merely one that seemed to exist.
In high school, Gabe continued to experience problems. As her disease
progressed, her visible symptoms made her an easy target. As graduation
day drew near, she became excited and nervous all at once. Her biggest
fear came true as she was handed her diploma on the stage at the
ceremony. She fell. She lay there for a few moments knowing that she had
to get up. With all of her courage, she slowly pulled herself up, and
got to her seat.
The much-anticipated all-night senior party was fast approaching and her
anxiety facing the class after her fall consumed her. And for good
reason, she was teased horribly that night. Gabe plummeted into a deep
depression. She refused to leave the house, became rude and treated her
loved ones in a terrible manner. Her depression continued until one day
she asked for a dog. Her mother explained that when you own a dog, you
have to take care of it, much like caring for a child. You have to take
the dog to the vet and out for walks.
With that, "Izzy," a goofy, velvet-eared coonhound came into Gabe's
life... and changed it in many ways. Coincidentally, Izzy began to show
similar muscular problems to Gabe, which resulted in extra medical care
and a heightened awareness of her special concerns. Eventually, Gabe
decided to change other people's lives by sharing her story. She travels
the country spreading the message that "bullying is a choice." She has
appeared on "Animal Planet" and the "Today Show." Sadly, Izzy passed
away a few years ago and "Dina" (also a coon-hound) has joined forces
with Gabe. Her inspirational book, Still Dancing, is a tell-all of her
personal journey to rise above all the heartache and pain that she has
experienced and her will to rid the world of bullies, one school at a
time. For more information visit www.gabeandizzy.com.
*According to the American Justice Department, each month, one out of
every four children will be bullied by another youth. The Elk Rapids
Schools have a strong Anti-Bullying Policy that continues to be enforced
by school administrators and staff.
