Seven-year-old Audrey Nethery may be pint-sized, but she’s powerful when it comes to her personality.
The first grader has become a viral sensation with the videos posted to her Facebook page “Audrey’s DBA Photo Booth.”
Audrey was 2 months old when doctors diagnosed her with Diamond Blackfan Anemia, a rare blood disease that means Audrey doesn’t make enough red blood cells. As a result, she’s on steroids and sometimes has to get blood transfusions. She said Taylor Swift inspired her to start singing.
“Because she has all the passion and spirit and I thought I would start singing to maybe put a little passion and spirit in me so maybe I could fight off my disease," Audrey said.
Audrey sings on her karaoke machine at home, and her dad has been posting the videos on Facebook. The Singing Machine actually donated its top-of-the-line karaoke machine to her.
Audrey also loves Zumba, and even performed on stage at the International Zumba Convention. She said she hopes the attention she gets on social media will help raise awareness and funds for her disease.
“I don’t make as much blood cells as most people do," she said. "And it makes me a little bit short, but that doesn’t stop me from moving and acting.”
Audrey, who is two and a half feet tall, has even appeared on the Rachael Ray show twice.
“People are concerned by her, and inspired, and they see her happy and smiling," said Audrey’s mom, Julie Haise. "Makes them happy and inspired.”
The girl's parents also shared some of the more difficult moments, such as blood transfusions.
"We want to remind people she's battling this illness,” her dad, Scott Nethery, said.
Throughout all of it, young Audrey keeps a very mature attitude.
"You just have to take a breath and say, 'I can do this,' and you go out there and you just do it," she said with a smile.