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At 26, Gabrielle Ford, a nationally traveled speaker about bullying in high school, has finally left her home nest. Ford, a young woman of convincing beauty who was diagnosed with Friedreich’s ataxia, a rare neuromuscular disease, when she was 12, moved a mile and a half from her courageous mother, her stepfather, her two sisters, and her beloved black and tan coonhound, Izzy, whose coincidental series of illnesses helped create an uncanny bond between dog and owner. Izzy and Gabe were awarded honorable mention for the American Kennel Club’s (AKC) ACE award in 2004 and awarded the Animal Welfare Award, also in 2004, from the Flint, Michigan Humane Society. That year, they were featured on the cover of the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Association’s magazine, Quest, and in the American Kennel Club’s Family Dog magazine in an article titled “Building A Mystery.” They were featured on the television show “People and Pets Common Diseases,” where Ford discussed Izzy’s story with leading veterinarian neurologist Dr. Diane Shelton. TV’s Animal Planet filmed their story and it aired on the show “Pet Story” more than 50 times between May 2001 and January 2006. When Animal Planet TV first aired the “Pet Story” entitled “Izzy and Gabe,” calls and letters came in from across the nation to let Gabe know how much her story inspired them. They could feel the pain of a girl who had been deeply hurt yet who stated she didn’t want anyone to feel sorry for her. Gabe’s story gave strength to many who were struggling with their own issues. One man wrote that after seeing Gabe’s story he decided not to take his life. At viewers’ request, this website was created to keep those who called informed about how Ford and Izzy were doing. At the time the site was created Gabe was the farthest thing from becoming a national motivational speaker. No one would have ever guessed that she, with Izzy by her side, would turn into an articulate and comfortable speaker, spreading the message to thousands of students, “NO SCHOOL BULLYING.” Ford, once a beautiful young ballet dancer, was so bullied at school because of her condition that she became ashamed of herself, hiding away for fear of being seen by those who had made fun of her during her school days. It seems Ford’s dog Izzy (whose AKC registered name is BUILDING A MYSTERY) has lived up to her name more than anyone could have ever have imagined. It was Izzy’s disease that brought Ford to the stage once again. Ford may not be ballet dancing any longer but, she is still dancing on stage in a different way. Becoming a speaker was not at all in Ford’s future plans. It all started when Julie Wright, a teacher in Fenton, Michigan, Gabe’s hometown, asked Gabe to come into her classroom to speak about the experience of being on “Pet Story.” Although this was very difficult and Gabe attempted to cancel one-half hour before she was due, she did it! Soon thereafter another teacher asked her to speak about bullying because he knew she had been bullied during her school days. Ford was hesitant but did what she was asked. Gabe’s message came deep from within her heart. She was able to reach students when others couldn’t! School staff would comment to Gabe’s mother Rhonda Hillman that they felt Ford had found her meaning and purpose in life but Rhonda thought that perhaps her purpose had found her! With thousands of letters from students (some posted on this website’s Guestbook) there is no question that students are forever changed by Gabe and Izzy. Ford now speaks to 150-800 students at a time. Gabe, a Detroit Red Wings hockey fan, has also begun promoting the Dominator athletic clothing line owned by former Red Wings goalie (and gold medal Olympian) Dominick Hasek. Her bylined feature was published in Dominator magazine and she oftentimes wears Hasek’s clothing line at public appearances. Ford occasionally writes articles for Dominator’s online magazine that can be viewed at www.dominatorclothing.com. HOW IZZY CHANGED FORD’S LIFE FOREVERTheir story begins with a series of coincidences that Gabe’s mother Rhonda likes to call “God-incidences,” a phrase she co-opted from Animal Planet producer Joe Zimmerman, who discovered the extraordinary story of Gabe and Izzy in 2001. Zimmerman recognized the remarkable coincidence that Gabe and Izzy share similar medical conditions. Within the first two years of the first airing of “Pet Story,” Ford and Izzy made their first public appearance at the elementary school Gabe’s sister Caitlin attended. Before long, more invitations to speak at schools arrived and Gabe found herself talking less about the experience of being filmed for television and more about what she experienced in middle and high school. In time, she became a featured speaker at schools around the country. Her mission is to spread the word about bullying in schools, through her talk “A Lesson In Bullying.” The story that hinges on Gabe and Izzy’s connection through similar medical conditions is really the story of how a loving pet forced a young girl, just out of high school, to face the depression that caught up with her after high school. Izzy’s medical needs forced Gabe out of hiding (from her hometown) since she had no other choice but to go out into the public she feared to give Izzy the medical care she so deserved. Once a graceful 12-year old girl, who adored ballet, jazz, and tap and reveled in being on stage, Gabe was bullied, taunted, and teased by her classmates, who did not understand her increasing clumsiness. Seeking what every child wants—to be normal—Ford decided to keep her illness a secret. She was proud to walk across the stage for her high school diploma with only a few knowing about her disease, but Ford became increasingly isolated. After graduation, she called her friends, some of who did not return her calls until six months later. By then she had became angry and hurt. She would tell her mother, “It takes time to be my friend. I feel like an extra piece of luggage and my friends who stayed local don’t have time for me.” Rhonda would come home from work and find Ford curled up like a little animal on the floor. Ford had been sleeping most of the day (a typical sign of depression and/or anxiety). Not know exactly how to help her daughter, Rhonda began by encouraging Ford to go out shopping and not let her fears rob her of the life God gave her. Ford began by accepted invitations to go shopping with her family (several years after getting Izzy) but only if the destination was a mall several towns removed from where she lived. When her family stopped at restaurants, she would stay in the car. Rhonda understood what her daughter was going through. It was anxiety related to her changing body image. This is difficult enough for a healthy person to deal with let alone a young woman with a medical condition. Rhonda never gave up on Gabe, always treating her no different than if she were healthy. Things really began to change when Rhonda insisted that Gabe take full responsibility for the pet dog she longed to own. Rhonda had told Gabe when she purchased Izzy that she was responsible for Izzy physically and financially. Rhonda knew by making her responsible physically it would keep Gabe’s muscles moving. She also knew Gabe would learn to manage her own income. Then Izzy became seriously ill and required a lot of extra care. During Izzy’s medical treatments, Gabe’s hometown of Fenton pulled together to help Gabe with Izzy’s medical expenses. This taught Gabe a lot about the love of her community and about giving and receiving. Ford is now giving back not only to a community but to a nation. Ford got Isabelle—or Izzy—a registered coonhound, in 2000, when she was 20. And her life has not been the same since. IZZY LIVES UP TO HER AKC REGISTERED NAME “BUILDING A MYSTERY”It started with romps on the rug, of course, and walks in the back yard. At a year of age, however, Izzy went through emergency surgery, having ingested a large stone, and this led to the discovery that her liver was unusually small. It turned out that a shunt in her liver was diverting toxic levels of enzymes to Izzy’s brain, causing a loss in balance and coordination—symptoms very similar to her owner’s. Things still didn’t add up so Dr. Kathy Anderson and Dr. Sandy Smith of the Fenton Animal Health Clinic did further testing. Dr. Anderson said, “Izzy looks just like Gabe. I have been a veterinarian for a long time but, I have never seen anything like this.” Izzy’s muscle and nerve tissue were sent to leading veterinarian Dr. Diane Shelton of the University of California at San Diego and Shelton confirmed the diagnosis of a rare muscle disease. When surgery failed to correct the problem, Izzy went on a special diet, which increased her strength, but did not improve her coordination. Moreover, Ford had to face the world. The young woman who would rarely leave the house had to get Izzy to veterinary appointments and negotiate critical aspects of her care. Facing veterinarians was the first step. Appearing on Animal Planet was the next. Speaking engagements were the follow up to that. But each level of engagement and responsibility also represented a young woman facing her fears and sharing her life experiences. Now, while schools donate money to defray Ford’s astronomical vet bills, Ford finds herself on stage again, her head held high, as she offers sometimes painful testimonial to the subtle and overt displays of bullying in schools and the subtle and overt damage it can cause. You may sign up on the home page to be notified when Still Dancing, Gabe’s memoir is available.
Anthony Hall |
