DOUGLAS COUNTY, Colo. — A Parker 9-year-old girl with scoliosis raised enough money to purchase special gifts for fellow children with scoliosis.
Sydney Black wears a brace 20 hours a day in hopes of straightening the curve in her spine. And she’s not alone.
Dr. Jaren Riley, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children, treats hundreds of patients with scoliosis every year.
“One percent of the world’s population has scoliosis, which is actually a pretty big number,” Riley said.
Girls are more likely than boys to need bracing. But in addition to being uncomfortable, the bracing can make girls like Sydney feel different.
Sydney said she’s been made fun of for her brace, but her confidence got a boost earlier this year when she received a special doll — a Barbie Chelsea doll. What makes this doll special is Chelsea, Barbie's sister, wears a brace.
“Once I found these, it made me feel like I wasn't alone,” Sydney said.
Sydney wanted other girls wearing braces to know they’re not alone. So she and her siblings started raising money with a lemonade stand that Denver7 profiled in June.
Parker United Methodist Church also helped raise money, along with family and friends. Their goal was to buy 50 Chelsea dolls, but ended up raising $4,700 — enough to buy 870 dolls.
The Black family made their first delivery of more than 200 dolls to Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children for Riley to distribute to his patients with scoliosis. They plan to donate others to an orthopedic practice in California.
The family has also started the club Sydney’s Bench to connect families dealing with scoliosis. A QR code on the back of each doll will allow other children to join.
“The doll is great, but having the potential to talk with someone, we get that request all the time,” Riley said.
