Danielle
Harada
Some families go to the annual
family beach trip; the Haradas go
to Fill the Boot. Danielle Harada, a design technology
coed, with sketch pad ready has been going to Fill the
Boot all her life. She's seen the indelible.
She described a comical sight when a magician from
a business across the street became an impromptu Fill
the Boot joiner. The magician eyed a Fill the Boot
sign. Picked it up. Waving the sign in a full spectrum
of swoops, sleeves flapping pink orange,
the magician jumped pogo til dusk as firefighters
offered Fill the Boot to festive passersby.
 "I like watching the firefighters. They work really hard.
It's exciting to see when someone clicks with the event.
People dig in their purses, wallets, ...
for money. My Dad likes to see the money go
for research because research means hope."
Reaching out to MDA started early, her parents noticed
that she had a problem walking. Her parent's
friend, a physical therapist, recommended that Danielle
get tested. Back then, there weren't blood tests.
So she had to go through a battery of tests before physicians
discovered that she had Intermediate Spinal Muscular
Atrophy (Type 2). For rehabilitation, she attends
an MDA clinic.
MDA also has a loan closet. The loan
closet has enabled Danielle to have a Hoyer lift.
The lift transports Danielle from her wheelchair
to her bed.
MDA opens to possibilities.
Danielle has been a Goodwill Ambassador from age
five to age ten. When Danielle first started, Goodwill
Ambassadors were known as poster children. As a Goodwill
Ambassador, she became aware of MDA camp.
Danielle enthusiastically emphasizes the experience
of MDA camp, "Camp is fantastic.
There are things that you don't
normally get to do such as horseback
riding, swimming, and sidecars."
Danielle opts for the pool.
It is one of the few times that they are away from
family to stretch out on their own. There are camp
counselors to offer guidance. Danielle further remarks, "It is one week
packed with fun. We are having Elvis and Pirates of
the Caribbean look-a-like contests,
karaoke, talk show theme, and Harley rides. We have
had Firefighter Appreciation Day where firefighters
can come hang out."
In her rare spare time, the best is painting
in pastels while her black dog Lucky and her black
cat Mimi sit audience. Lucky, a Labrador mix, was
slated to be her service dog. But the loveable pup became
a pet.
To further her art, Daniel
is acquiring her bachelor's
degree in fine arts at Tukwila's International Design
Technology Institute next year.
She is going to school in the
summer to finish early. After graduation, she might
pursue web design and logo creation.
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