Local citizen creates safe haven for cancer patients
Not all super heroes wear tights and fly around in capes. Some of the people watching out for everyone fly right under the radar.
Gale Smith, a Wylie native, was diagnosed with breast cancer on March 15, 2008. On her journey she met a couple of “amazing” people.
“As I was going through chemo therapy there were people that I met that would tell me about still having a full time job and taking care of their family,” Smith said. “I kept thinking ‘Wow that’s really amazing that they’re going through this treatment and still having to take care of things.’ That’s how I got the name Amazed by You.”
Smith opened a shop, Amazed by You, which sells wigs, scarves and other items to help people going through the same journey she took. It is located on West Oak Street.
“When I was ready to go back to work, I wanted to do something to help others,” Smith said. “I had already gone through a lot of the things most people don’t know about and it made me feel good to open up the shop.”
Smith doesn’t only spend her time working in her shop though. She has a team competing in the Relay for Life races, works with the Christian Care Center and has started a support group open to any cancer patients or survivors.
“A lot of people make friends through [the support group]. They chat and have a good time. It brings everyone together,” Smith said.
Freshman Sydney Herzog has known Smith her whole life and was with her while she was going through her treatments and on the road to recovery.
“I was pretty young when she was diagnosed with breast cancer so I didn’t know it was a life threatening disease,” Herzog said. “Now I can appreciate what she went through and what she does for other women.”
Smith didn’t open her shop because it’s the right thing to do, but because helping people is what she loves.
“It makes me happy that when they come here they feel safe and they get all the information they need to make it through their journey unafraid,” Smith said.
