A Rowlett girl who struggled for acceptance found hope and strength in a surprising place.
When 10-year-old McKenna McGough met Winter the dolphin, it was love at first sight.
"I thought since she just loves me, and I love her, we could talk to each other often and see each other," McKenna said.
Winter was an unlikely source of encouragement for a girl who always felt different.
"Lots of my friends didn't have hearing aids, and it made me feel really uncomfortable about it," she said.
Born hearing-impaired, McKenna was always embarrassed to wear her hearing aid or to talk about her condition with others.
But two years ago, a trip down to Clearwater, Fla., changed her whole world.
"It did surprise me how she was just relaxed and just loving on me," said McKenna of the first time she swam in the pool with Winter.
In Winter, McKenna found strength in a little dolphin without a tail -- she was crippled after an accident involving a crab trap.
"She's not so shy to show her stump, so why should I be shy to show my hearing aid?" McKenna said.
Her mother, Stacy, said it was amazing to see how her daughter's attitude changed.
"It was a big blessing, because after we saw her for the first time, McKenna started wearing her hearing aid. She started talking to people openly about what was wrong," Stacy McGough said.
McKenna has seen Winter six times in the last two years, and she looks forward to many more visits. She's even had a chance to watch Winter's trainers fit the dolphin with a prosthetic tail.
After McKenna met Winter, she wanted to know everything about the dolphin. She's even decided she wants to be Winter's trainer when she grows up.
"I want to give back to Winter because of all the things she's done to help me," McKenna said.
It meant going without on her birthday, so Winter could have, her mother said.
"She invited all of her friends and said, 'You know, just bring money or make a donation to the aquarium for me so that I can do presents for Winter,'" McGough said.
McKenna said she believes it was the least she could do and was a way to say, "Thank you," to Winter for everything she's done for her.
"She's helped me in not being afraid to be different," McKenna said.
For more information about Winter, visit: www.seewinter.com.
