The Cranston mother of a child with dwarfism has compelled Cains to stop calling a variety of pickles it sells 'midgets' after a campaign that included a YouTube video and her blog.
Chelly Martinka is the mom of a 10-month old little person and said she was "shocked, appalled and hurt" when she saw a jar of pickles labeled "Kosher Dill Midgets" at a local Stop and Shop.
Her daughter, Adelaide Eileen Martinka was diagnosed with Achrondoplastia when she was nine-and-a-half weeks old. One in 40,000 births is of a child with dwarfism.
"I know that as times change it is hard for a company to keep up," Martinka said. "But for the equality of all children I hope you consider renaming this product for 2013.
Martinka said her little Adeline goes by many names. Addie, Bugga, little bit, "a long list of silly names."
But "one name I never want to hear is 'midget'."
The company that produces the pickles, Gedney Foods in Minnesota, responded by saying it would drop the word from their labels and would allow the remaining inventory of pickles to be sold out.
The company said it was "doing the right thing" in an e-mail statement but said it doesn't want media attention or recognition.
In the emotionally touching YouTube video, Martinka said she loves her little girl "without judgement" and appreciates the lessons that motherhood brings.
One of those lessons is that "making changes is never an easy thing," she said. "Sometimes what is new is scary and expensive. My husband and I know both quite well. But sometimes what's hardest to achieve is the most rewarding in the end."
"I just want what is best of my child," she said. "A world where she is not slang on a label. A place where she is just Adelaide."