Have you ever looked at a child with a disability and felt pity?
Gilette Children's Hospital is making a push to show that these kids don't need your sympathy.
6–year–old Madison Harbarth has a passion for music, dancing and getting her nails painted.
And if you spend much time with her, you might also notice she gets around a little different than her classmates.
Rick Harbarth says, "Madison was born with a rare disease called sacral agenesis syndrome."
Her dad says the disorder stopped Madison's spine from growing in utero, which means the lower half of her body didn't, and won't ever, completely develop...but that doesn't slow her down.
Harbarth says, "Madison just has a can do personality, a lot of times my wife and I want to help her with everything and she is like no, no, no I can do it."
In fact, her kindergarten teacher says there is very little that she can't do.
Ann Weber says "Madison is a very top–notch student, she's a very hard worker, she has excellent work habits and is very much of a class leader."
Her piano teacher says she was reading music before she could read books.
Piano teacher Karen Dungan says, "She is a wonderful student, we have a delightful time together."
Her dance teacher has even more praise.
Meagan Gerber says, "Oh she is great, she catches on so fast and she gets to be a little silly sometimes but I love it."
Although, there are still many people that see Madison's disability rather than her talents.
Like on a family trip last summer, a bus driver saw Madison passing by.
Harbarth says, "he said wow, I feel sorry for kids like that."
Madison's parents were already on the bus and heard the comment.
Harbarth says, "We looked at each other than at the bus driver and said, you really don't have to feel sorry for her, I think she has got a pretty good life."
It's situations like these that inspire the Harbarths to be a voice for Gillette Children's Hospital's Cure Pity campaign, which focuses on rejecting the notion that kids with disabilities need sympathy.
Harbarth says, "We are really proud to tell her story."
For people that know Madison, they barely see her disability.
Weber says, "Her courage and her determination to be the best is what I see in Madison everyday all the time."
Now they hope those that don't know her, can look beyond her disability and see her bright personality, talents, and endless potential.
To learn more about the Cure Pity Campaign go to our website at KEYC–dot–TV.
