Gianna Henrickson nicknamed herself "Queen Bee," and anyone who meets this plucky 5 year old understands why. She reigns over life with pure joy and an insatiable spirit of adventure. She can be found dressed as a princess at Disney World, dancing in a New York City Ballet workshop or screaming the loudest on the flag football cheerleading team.

"For a child that has been through so much, she has never let it take her down," explains Gianna's mother, Erica. "She doesn't question any of it and it just gives her more sass and pizzazz."

Born with central core myopathy, a condition that causes problems with the tone and contraction of skeletal muscles, Gianna uses a wheelchair and a pink, sparkly gait trainer. But to experience her positive attitude, you would never know that her health issues go even deeper. Gastroparesis and dysmotility, which affect the muscles of the digestive system, necessitated an ileostomy in 2018. And a few months later, Gianna chose to have a urostomy due to a neurogenic bladder.

"Vinny doesn't see her as having medical issues," says Erica. "He sees her as perfect, and even goes to appointments with us to learn about her various products and devices."

Queen Bee has no shortage of friends, both with and without disabilities. She's an active member of The Girl Scouts of America and on the cheerleading squad for the Mohawk Valley Challengers, a special-needs flag football team.

Erica remembers a time right after surgery when Gianna lifted up her shirt and showed "Sprinkles" to her friends. She explained how her ostomy and pouching system worked and ended the demonstration with, "Do you have any questions?" She also uses "Holly Hollister," her Shadow Buddy doll, to explain her stoma, letting friends peel the pouching system off and put it back on.

"Not one of the little girls has an issue with any of it," says Erica. "The more we normalize things like this, the more people know that none of us are Barbie dolls coming out of the factory."

Erica's advice to other parents of children embarking on ostomy surgery is to reach out on social media to other families who have experienced what you're going through. Also it's a good idea to peek at your child's stoma for the first time before they come out of anesthesia so they don't see any shock on your face. Remember that your child is looking to you to say it's all going to be okay.

"Most of all be proud of your child and the strength that he or she has," concludes Erica. "I am proud and honored to be Gianna's mother, and I am proud of the person she has helped me to become. Anyone who has met Gianna has become a better person because of her."