Having scoliosis and needing to wear a bulky back brace, Sydney Black has always felt different — so she came up with a sweet way to help other unique kids feel accepted and loved. Here, she shares her story with Woman’s World.
Sydney’s journey: Why she created a charity for scoliosis
Another wave of panic washed over 8-year-old Sydney Black as a voice rang out across the classroom: “Here comes sickly Sydney!” Every second grader turned to stare. It was the same boy who had teased her in the hallway, mimicking the way her back brace pushed her shoulders up.
Diagnosed with scoliosis at age 4 — a condition that causes the spine to curve abnormally and affects roughly 100,000 children in the U.S. each year — Sydney had to wear a rigid plastic brace 19 to 22 hours a day to keep her curve from worsening as she grew. After moving from Illinois to Parker, Colorado, and starting at a new school, all Sydney wanted was to blend in. Instead, she felt more exposed than ever.
Sydney Black
Most of her classmates had been kind, even calling her strong and saying she inspired them. But that one bully — the boy who never missed a chance to mock her — got under her skin more than she wanted to admit. Sickly Sydney is tired of being different than everyone else, she thought with despair.
But then, a familiar spark lit inside her — the same one that had carried her since the day her diagnosis had changed everything. It was the feeling of fight, of refusing to give up. The quiet certainty that if she kept her head high and kept moving forward, something bigger and brighter was waiting on the other side.
How dolls with back braces help kids feel seen
That year, the Easter Bunny brought her a basket with a special doll made by Mattel. The doll’s name was Chelsea, Barbie’s sister, and she, too, wore a back brace for scoliosis. “Everybody has something. It’s what you do with it that matters,” says Sydney, who is happy that her story is helping inspire others. “She’s just like me!” Sydney exclaimed to her mother, Nicole, who smiled as the little girl examined every detail, right down to the doll’s curved spine.
Sydney played with Chelsea endlessly, bringing the doll everywhere, basking in the comfort that she was no longer alone. Finally, she felt a sisterhood with another girl like her. More secure. More accepted.
Weeks later, as Sydney played with the doll in the kitchen as her mother was cooking dinner, she stroked Chelsea’s long, dark hair and blurted what was on her mind. “Mom, I wish that all the girls with scoliosis could have this doll so they don’t ever feel alone either,” she said.
Nicole noticed something in her daughter’s eyes — a mix of determination and hope she hadn’t seen in months, not since the pain had begun to take its toll. “Would you like to share this doll with other girls who have scoliosis?” she gently asked.
“Yes!” Sydney exclaimed, beaming with excitement and hope.
It quickly turned into a family mission. Sydney’s twin brother, Carter, her little sister, Rayna, her dad, LG, and her mom, Nicole, all jumped in to help. They launched their efforts with a lemonade stand during a neighborhood garage sale, then created a GoFundMe page and ran a “Sydney’s Lemonade for Scoliosis” booth at a local kids’ entrepreneur fair.
Momentum grew when a Denver news station picked up their story, and Mattel stepped in to support the cause, supplying all the dolls they needed. Even jewelry designer Kendra Scott reached out, offering to host in-store fundraisers to help Sydney on her mission. “We’re doing it!” Sydney said, overjoyed by such generous hearts.
Sydney Black
Paying it forward
What began as a goal to donate 50 dolls quickly grew into something much bigger. Sydney and her siblings have now donated more than 870 dolls to hospitals across the country. Sydney delivered many herself to kids at the Scoliosis Care Center in Campbell, California, where she’s a patient, and to the Rocky Mountain Children’s Hospital in Colorado alongside her orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Riley. At every donation, Sydney brings miles of smiles, and those around her are constantly being inspired by her giving spirit and mission to help others feel seen.
“We are incredibly moved by and proud to support Sydney’s lemonade stand, raising funds to donate Chelsea with a Back Brace doll to fellow pediatric scoliosis patients,” shares Krista Berger, Senior Vice President of Barbie and Global Head of Mattel Dolls. “Sydney’s passion and generosity are a powerful reminder to all of us why inclusive storytelling matters and how it can truly make a difference.”
Sydney, now 11 and starting sixth grade, is happy that her story is making a difference. “Even if you feel like you are alone, you’re not,” she shares. “Everybody has something. It’s what you do with it that matters — so choose to help others to be strong in their journey.”
