Still Dancing

Book excerpt: Adversity Gives You Two Choices: Collapse or Grow Stronger As a child, Gabrielle Ford loved dance and dreamed of becoming a prima ballerina.That dream was shattered by rare neuromuscular disease that would eventually place her in a wheelchair. Gabe not only struggled with the devastation of the illness, but endured constant and cruel bullying from classmates. The constant torment took her on a path of depression and isolation. That all changed when Izzy, a long-eared coonhound pup, entered Gabe's life. Izzy became Gabe's best friend and constant companion. When this special friend mysteriously developed a condition with mirroring Gabe's, Gabe re-entered the world to get Izzy the best treatment available. Speaking out for the voice-less Izzy gave her the courage to speak out for another voiceless group: the thousands of children bullied in American schools every day. Through countless personal trials, Gabe found her way back to stage. Today, she is an outspoken advocate against school bullying speaking at schools and conferences across the country. Gabe's remarkable journey has drawn national attention from The Today Show, Animal Planet's A Pet Story, and Cosmopolitan magazine, among others. Gabe autobiography shares even more of the inspirational details from her incredible life as a way to encourage others that anything is possible. www.gabeandizzy.com