A 9-year-old Escalon girl and her family are getting some much-needed support at a time when they need it most.Sydney Engle is receiving treatment for an aggressive form of bone cancer.So, when an El Dorado Hills small business owner learned about Sydney’s cancer fight, she knew just how to help.Chelsey Smith, owner of Chelsey Smith Cosmetics, hosted a special wig sale Thursday across three social media platforms with proceeds going to benefit Sydney and her family.Sydney’s cancer journey began just over four months ago when she started experiencing arm pain.Her parents thought it might be growing pains, or maybe even a pulled muscle.But then one day in February, Sydney bumped her arm on the shower faucet and began crying so hard her parents took her to the emergency room. After the ER visit, came another trip.“They took her by ambulance to UC Davis, and within a couple days we got the diagnosis,” said Sydney’s mom, Kacy Engle.That diagnosis: osteosarcoma. Bone cancer. Within two days, Sydney began chemotherapy.“The type of chemo regimen that she gets is one of the toughest ones you can get,” Engle said. “Her particular cancer that she has is extremely aggressive and fast-growing.”Next, Sydney endured a limb salvage surgery to save her arm. Then came the side effects of her cancer treatment.“When she started losing her hair it made it all real,” Engle said. “That really was devastating to her, and I think, probably the hardest thing yet for her.”But a trip to Smith’s wig studio helped Sydney at a time her spirits most needed lifting.Through a program called “I’m Hair For You,” Smith is helping people who’ve experienced hair loss, one wig at a time. The small business is making a big difference in the lives of people just like Sydney.“We immediately fell in love,” Smith said about meeting Sydney and her family for the first time. Smith said she knew just how to help. She named a wig after Sydney and hosted the online wig sale with funds raised going directly toward helping the Engle Family.“Finding Chelsey and finding this has been wonderful,” Engle said, in reference to Smith’s wig studio.Shopping for a “hair crown”, as Smith calls her wigs, is just what Sydney needed.“I don’t know if it’s necessarily even the hair. Just being together and being able to smile and enjoy this time that we’re having. Having fun,” Engle explained. “I think that’s really what is most important.”Being fitted with a wig and taking part in the online fundraising event is part of what’s giving Sydney strength for the long battle ahead.“What I do whenever I feel like there’s something hard for me to do is pray,” said Sydney Engle. “That’s the best thing that you can do.”The family has set up a GoFundMe site at this link to help with mounting medical bills.“She’s amazing and she’s definitely reminded us that we don’t have anything to be scared of,” Kacy Engle said. “She’s got this.”If you or someone you know is in need of a wig because of hair loss. Chelsey Smith Cosmetics accepts applications and donates wigs to a small number of recipients each month.Information about their “I’m Hair For You” program can be found at this link.
A 9-year-old Escalon girl and her family are getting some much-needed support at a time when they need it most.
Sydney Engle is receiving treatment for an aggressive form of bone cancer.
So, when an El Dorado Hills small business owner learned about Sydney’s cancer fight, she knew just how to help.
Chelsey Smith, owner of Chelsey Smith Cosmetics, hosted a special wig sale Thursday across three social media platforms with proceeds going to benefit Sydney and her family.
Sydney’s cancer journey began just over four months ago when she started experiencing arm pain.
Her parents thought it might be growing pains, or maybe even a pulled muscle.
But then one day in February, Sydney bumped her arm on the shower faucet and began crying so hard her parents took her to the emergency room. After the ER visit, came another trip.
“They took her by ambulance to UC Davis, and within a couple days we got the diagnosis,” said Sydney’s mom, Kacy Engle.
That diagnosis: osteosarcoma. Bone cancer. Within two days, Sydney began chemotherapy.
“The type of chemo regimen that she gets is one of the toughest ones you can get,” Engle said. “Her particular cancer that she has is extremely aggressive and fast-growing.”
Next, Sydney endured a limb salvage surgery to save her arm. Then came the side effects of her cancer treatment.
“When she started losing her hair it made it all real,” Engle said. “That really was devastating to her, and I think, probably the hardest thing yet for her.”
But a trip to Smith’s wig studio helped Sydney at a time her spirits most needed lifting.
Through a program called “I’m Hair For You,” Smith is helping people who’ve experienced hair loss, one wig at a time. The small business is making a big difference in the lives of people just like Sydney.
“We immediately fell in love,” Smith said about meeting Sydney and her family for the first time.
Smith said she knew just how to help. She named a wig after Sydney and hosted the online wig sale with funds raised going directly toward helping the Engle Family.
“Finding Chelsey and finding this has been wonderful,” Engle said, in reference to Smith’s wig studio.
Shopping for a “hair crown”, as Smith calls her wigs, is just what Sydney needed.
“I don’t know if it’s necessarily even the hair. Just being together and being able to smile and enjoy this time that we’re having. Having fun,” Engle explained. “I think that’s really what is most important.”
Being fitted with a wig and taking part in the online fundraising event is part of what’s giving Sydney strength for the long battle ahead.
“What I do whenever I feel like there’s something hard for me to do is pray,” said Sydney Engle. “That’s the best thing that you can do.”
The family has set up a GoFundMe site at this link to help with mounting medical bills.
“She’s amazing and she’s definitely reminded us that we don’t have anything to be scared of,” Kacy Engle said. “She’s got this.”
If you or someone you know is in need of a wig because of hair loss. Chelsey Smith Cosmetics accepts applications and donates wigs to a small number of recipients each month.
Information about their “I’m Hair For You” program can be found at this link.