An Interview With Izzy, Part 2

Last year at about this time, I . She is now finishing up her fifth grade year and will be heading to Lincoln Middle School come September. She is still fighting the life-shortening disease, Friedreich's Ataxia, and is tirelessly trying to raise mony and awareness for FARA, the Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance. She has done this through "" Izzy's Garden and by participating in the .

Izzy and Izzy's Angels will be putting on the second  this Saturday night. In hope of promoting this show, I thought it would be fun to talk to Izzy again. See what’s new in her life, what’s changed this year and if she thinks boys still smell like monkey toes.

What are your thoughts about heading to middle school? 

"I'm so excited! My class went on a tour of a few weeks ago and there is a teacher who has a cat as a class pet. I hope I get to be in THAT class!"

Having her own locker get a thumbs- up, too.

"I'm going to be sad leaving , though. Everyone has been so nice to me. They're used to me here and I feel comfortable."

I hear you played Maleficent in BACT's rendition of Sleeping Beauty. Tell me about your new-found love of acting.

"I did! I liked it a lot and had a great time! I like acting. I like pretending I'm someone different than who I really am for a little bit. I liked playing Maleficent because she's mean. Heh, I liked being mean!"

I know exactly how she feels. My kids say I'm mean all the time. However, I'm not acting.

She also mentioned that she is going to participate in an acting camp this summer and that she is planning on trying out for the roll of Ms. Hannigan in BACT's upcoming rendition of Annie. Why Ms. Hannigan? Because she's mean!

That's my girl.  

I watched a video you made called Izzy's Ride Ataxia Experience and I have to say is that you have some amazing video skills! Do you think this is something you'd like to do more of in the future? Why? What do you like about it?

"Well, my dad works a lot with computers so he showed me what to do in the beginning. But the rest of it I just figured out by playing around. It was super fun and I'd totally like to do it again."  

Its been a year since our last interview. You're in your wheelchair full time now, am I correct? What's it been like navigating around school? 

"I got a new chair! Yep, at school I'm pretty much in my chair all the time. But this new chair is custom-made just for me so it is way more comfortable and easier to get around in. It's smaller, too, so I don't bump into things as much. Plus it's purple! My favorite color is clear but purple is Samantha's favorite color (her table mate at school) and since she's the one who has to look at it every day, that's cool." 

What's the worst part about having FA? 

"That the medicine I have to take every day tastes nasty! And it's huge!"

What would you like other people to know about FA? 

"That I can do almost anything other people can do. AND that my medicine tastes like dirt!"

Tell me about your upcoming Make A Wish trip to the San Diego Zoo.

"Well, my parents contacted the Make A Wish people. They came and visited me and asked me to pick out three things I would like to do. I chose being on a Disney TV show, being a volunteer at the Lindsay Wildlife Museum and to try scuba diving. None of those things were available so I chose being an assistant trainer at the San Diego Zoo. But that's all I know. Everything is super secret until it's time for me to go. Then they send me a letter with all the details. I can't wait!" 

And finally Izzy, we come to the question that's been on everybody's mind since last year. You stated in our that your brother smells like old fish and that boys in general smell like monkey toes. Now that you’re almost in sixth grade, do you still stand by that quote? 

Yes, definitely.

Izzy and FARA need your support. Please come to the Elks Club this Saturday to hear the musical stylings of three local, home-grown bands: For The Girl, and . There’s food, there’s drinks, there’s great raffle prizes as well as a fun '70 & '80’s-themed dance party! Yes, costumes are optional, but personally, I highly recommend them. Please . Izzy and I hope to see you there!