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Sydney started
her rock necklace business when she
was only 8 years old. She found
beautiful rocks on the beach of Lake
Michigan and turned them into
necklaces with a simple string. The
necklaces were a hit among family
and friends. She saved up the money
she earned and planned to use the
money for something important. Now
she knows what that is...
In Sept. 2007 at 10 years old, after
a lesion was discovered in her
cheekbone, Sydney was diagnosed with
LCH, Langerhan’s Cell Histiocytosis,
a rare blood disorder. The cause of
the disease is unknown and it is
estimated that Histiocytosis affects
one in 200,000 children each year in
the U.S. LCH is considered an
"orphan" disease, meaning no
government funding is allocated to
search for the best treatments and a
cure. After a biopsy confirmed
Sydney's LCH diagnosis, Sydney
underwent surgery to have a port
implanted in her chest to receive
six months of chemotherapy along
with high doses of steroids.
Although Histiocytosis is not
classified as Cancer, it requires
some of the same treatments. Sydney
has been doing well since she
stopped treatment and plans to
continue making and selling her rock
necklaces until a cure is found for
LCH.
100% of the money earned from her Syd Rocks for LCH necklaces will be donated for medical research to find a cure for LCH and $10 from each t shirt sale will be donated to the Giving Rocks Foundation established to help other charities and projects Sydney has come to know and love. |
