Adversity will have one of two effects on our lives. It will destroy us or make us stronger. Gabrielle Ford dreamed of becoming a prima ballerina but when her family noticed a decline in her speech and coordination, those dreams were shattered. Diagnosed with a neuromuscular disease at the age of 12, Gabe not only struggled with the devastation of the illness but endured constant and cruel bullying from classmates throughout middle school and high school. Life changed dramatically for Gabe, however, when she met Izzy, a beautiful and loving coonhound who would become her best friend and constant companionand who, mysteriously, would develop a condition with symptoms almost mirroring Gabes Now, with Izzy by her side and with the unconditional love of her mother and family, Gabe has become a nationally recognized speaker on the subject of school bullying, appearing everywhere from Animal Planet to The Today Show and she and Izzy have inspired millions to end the vicious cycle of bullying running rampant in our schools while showing us all anything is possible.