Sydney is a sociable and kind-hearted 23-year-old, and aspiring cat owner, who loves reading books, watching movies, and exploring the outdoors. She is a caring sibling to her two sisters, who have the recessive AGU gene, two step sisters, and one step brother. Although is always ready to support her, Sydney is very independent. Hoping to eventually save enough to adopt a cat, Sydney works a part time job in retail. When she isn’t attending to her part-time job or maintaining her own apartment, Sydney volunteers with animals at the local Humane Society through a nonprofit called Ark of the Ozarks which helps people with disabilities to live more independently. Sydney enjoys staying in touch with friends from high school and engaging in group activities through Ark of the Ozarks.

Sydney was a very normal infant and toddler. In kindergarten, Sydney earned top scores on an exam measuring learning abilities, but seemed to have trouble speaking in class. Sydney promptly received a diagnosis for selective mutism, but it wasn’t until the fifth grade that homework difficulty and dropping grades prompted her family to take her to a pediatric neurologist. The neurologist diagnosed Sydney with Aspergers, a form of Autism Spectrum Disorder. The neurologist also took an MRI scan, which revealed abnormal white matter in Sydney’s frontal lobe. Sydney’s family consulted many professionals to review Sydney’s MRI results, but no one could pinpoint the cause of the mysterious white matter.