Two stories went viral over the weekend that we all NEED to see to be better, happier humans.
First, a local dance class held a "Princess Day," and one little trailblazer came dressed as a hot dog:
Here's my favorite quote from her dance teacher, Sarah Nativi:
Happily Ainsley and her parents are delighted by the attention this story is getting, and she was even invited to open their recital on Saturday in her hot dog costume!
Here's a better pic of Ainsley (on the far left) with her teacher after the recital:
Be sure to head over to BuzzFeed News for the whole account, and lots more awesome pics.
But before you go, here's one more story you're going to want to watch alone, and with a Kleenex handy. It's the story of Emma, just as she receives an American Girl doll with a prosthetic leg that matches her own:
(You can see the mom's original FB post here)
I legit ugly-sobbed for like 5 minutes, you guys. I can't remember the last time I was this inspired to put more goodness like this into the world.
What's more, Emma's doll was modified - FOR FREE - by an actual prosthetics company, A Step Ahead.
From the A Step Ahead website:
Anyone with a child who has had or is facing an amputation is welcome to
send us an American Girl doll which we will happily modify with a
prosthetic limb (or limbs) to match the child. The prosthetics
themselves are entirely designed and fabricated in our prosthetics shop
alongside the “real” prosthetics, and are painted by hand in a variety
of colors.
And since not everyone can afford an American Girl doll, the company has even set up a foundation to accept donations exclusively for purchasing dolls for children with limb loss.
I don't know about you, but I'm about ready to hug the whole planet now. Even that FB friend who won't stop posting political memes. Even the chair-kicker at the movie theater. Even my whole state of Florida. That's right, bring it in, world. Let's hug this out.
In all seriousness, though, let's carry the spirit of Ainsley and Emma with us this week, you guys. Let's work harder and love more. Let's bring more goodness to the world. In a world full of princesses, let's be the hot dog.
[obligatory Hot Dog Princess reference]
That. Is. Awesome. Thank you for sharing and making me cry too.
ReplyDelete(((HUGS)))
Thank you for reminding us that there are still good people/companies in this world. And that sometimes it's okay to be a hotdog (but a princess on the inside).
ReplyDelete--Piper P from Washington State
<3
ReplyDeleteGood thing I keep Kleenex next to my computer… That was beautiful.
ReplyDeleteHot dog princess made my week, and the little girl with the American Girl doll had me ugly crying at work.
ReplyDeleteDammit. Read this post right before I had to pick up my son from school earlier today, and then I had to go out in public with red cry-eyes. Thanks?
ReplyDeleteBut, I love reading about good people and kind acts, so it was worth it.
KW
When I saw Ainsley's story at first, I immediately thought she was Hot Dog Princess :)
ReplyDeleteYou were the first one I thought of when I saw both of these stories!
ReplyDeleteI ugly cried when I watched the doll video too. And teared up again reading about it.
ReplyDeleteThat hot dog princess is awesome! Wish I had been that cool when I was young :)
Dangit..i cried too....
ReplyDeleteso beautiful! Very glad I am alone in my (shared) office at the moment :)
ReplyDeleteMy almost-2-year-old has an amputation. I watched that video and cried and cried.
ReplyDeleteI often worry about how my daughter will perceive society's acceptance of her limb difference, and knowing that there are people out there who are willing to help the rest of us prove to our children that they are just as normal as anyone else really, really brings me joy.
Thank you for highlighting this story.
And thank you for being you. :D
Wow. Just...wow. Thank you so much for sharing these stories. The little girl and her doll was so amazing, I am definitely going to donate to their foundation. That is so wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI watched that clip at work without sound. Even so, I am having an ocular leakage issue!
ReplyDeleteThat is extremely cool of the Step Ahead company.
-Just Andrea
So inspiring - thank you for sharing this. (I'm new here...I used to just come for the cake wrecks...now I'm staying for the Epbot greatness.)
ReplyDeleteand now I'm bawling! That is so amazing. I have a dog who only has 3 legs, he lost the fourth one when he was 7, it took him about 3 days to be walking, running and dying to jump up on things. Because of his amputation I follow a lot of sites about animals with amputations (dogs, cats, rabbits) and I have always thought they need more publicity as their attitudes are something we all should aspire to (whether an amputee yourself or someone who knows/interacts with someone who has been through it) Animals have no embarrassment and no sense of limitation from their amputation, it's just something to work through and become even more awesome because of it - people can learn from that! Emma is awesome, her doll is awesome - being one leg short just makes her even more awesome and unstoppable! Thanks for sharing Jen.
ReplyDeleteno you shut up, you're crying! what a beautiful story about the dolly! I love her little sister's face, she can barely contain herself.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing that American Girl post. That made me cry in a very good way. :D
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'm legit sobbing, but happy ugly sobbing!
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to pick two charities to donate monthly too. I think every year I'll change it up, but for a year, those two will get me monies to help do good things. And - pretty sure this just made the top of my list. I want them to be legit, amazing foundations. this fits the bill.
ReplyDelete!!!
ReplyDelete