Abigail Hardin: Patients of Courage Honoree

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Abigail Hardin was born with a right cheek capillary vascular malformation - port wine birth mark.  She received several laser surgeries throughout her childhood to alleviate the malformation. Based on her life experiences, she recently published a children's book entitled "Look at me; I'm just like you" about a hippopotamus named Lucy who has a port wine stain on her cheek. Lucy is the subject of peer ridicule and teaches her classmates to accept and respect other children with facial and functional deformities. Hardin travels to schools to read her book to school children, giving both teachers and students the opportunity to increase their awareness of the self-esteem and emotional issues facing children perceived as "different." Hardin also started Open My Eyes Foundation whose sole purpose is to fund projects that promote character-development in children. A percentage of the sales of her book will go to support the ongoing mission of her foundation.

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