Zoe Bennett works on a new batch of dog treats on Thursday. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Zoe Bennett works on a new batch of dog treats on Thursday. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

When Phenyx was diagnosed with cancer, Zoe didn’t hesitate

The 2 girls have been best friends since the start.

EVERETT — There are photos of Phenyx and Zoe as babies. Their grandparents were neighbors and close friends in Everett. Their mothers are like sisters. Their families have been through a lot, together.

Zoe’s mom doesn’t recall much about the days after she lost her son, Knox, to sudden infant death syndrome, when he was 4 months old in 2009. Some of her clearest memories are of her friend and former babysitter Nicole Andolsek spending time with her, just being there, helping with basic things — laundry, dishes, whatever would make it easier for Dawn.

“The pain of losing a child literally cannot compare to anything,” Dawn Bennett said. “Not only does it make you crazy, it makes you look for reasons to keep living. Zoe was that reason for us.”

Phenyx Andolsek (left) was diagnosed with a rare cancerous tumor in her skull in 2016. This year her friend Zoe Bennett, 10, has been baking and selling dog treats to help Phenyx’s family with medical bills. (Bennett family)

Phenyx Andolsek (left) was diagnosed with a rare cancerous tumor in her skull in 2016. This year her friend Zoe Bennett, 10, has been baking and selling dog treats to help Phenyx’s family with medical bills. (Bennett family)

Zoe, 10, is a bit younger than Nicole’s daughter, Phenyx. The girls would often play with the family dogs, while their parents chatted. They played soccer, too. But that stopped when doctors figured out what was causing Phenyx to go cross-eyed. She was diagnosed with mesenchymal chondrosarcoma, a rare form of cancer in her skull. Surgeons removed about three-quarters of the tumor in October 2016. Part of it remained, wrapped around a cranial nerve.

Online fundraisers raised tens of thousands of dollars for the family — but the Andolseks said they still spend up to $2,000 a month for Phenyx’s MRIs, a special diet and other nontraditional treatments that are not covered by insurance. There is no standard way to manage the cancer, and the effectiveness of radiation therapy to fight it “remains controversial,” according to a study published in 2015. The Andolseks sold their home in Lake Stevens, in large part to cover medical bills.

Zoe, a student at Marshall Elementary School in Marysville, wanted to help. She came up with the idea to bake dog treats with her mom, to raise money for the Andolseks.

Both of the girls love animals. And Zoe had learned to make gluten-free, high-protein snacks for her dog Grizzly, 4, a chihuahua and pug mix, or “chug,” who has food allergies. If he eats chicken, Zoe said, his tail goes bald. (She would make birthday cake and ice cream for her dog, if she could, according to her mom.)

“He is spoiled to the bone because of me,” Zoe said.

When Phenyx was diagnosed with cancer, Zoe didn’t hesitate

This week they spent days baking their recipe — peanut butter and a few secret ingredients that include “a little girl’s love,” Dawn said — that they cut into heart and bone shapes. They used to carve words like “sit” into them by hand, until the batches got too big. They plan to sell the treats at the Dream Builders car show Sunday, at Evergreen Speedway in Monroe.

The Bennetts are into cars, and go to the shows often. Zoe hopes to repeat the kind of unexpected success she had at the Hot Rods and Hogs car show earlier this month in Maltby, when the host let her make her pitch over the microphone. She told the crowd her goal was to make $100 for her friend, and explained the back story. One man who made a purchase told Zoe that his mother died of cancer four days earlier. By the end of the day she had raised more than $1,300.

Total, she has brought in about double that amount in the past months, one $3 bag at a time. She has taken orders from faraway places like Kentucky. On her Instagram, @bark4a cause, she posts faces of satisfied canine customers.

The Andolseks uprooted to Colorado about a year ago, to a home west of Denver. They’ve stayed in touch with the Bennetts over FaceTime. Since the surgery, Phenyx has been having seizures. Removing most of the tumor relieved pressure that was causing Phenyx’s eye problems, but it left a scar on her head.

“Oh, I didn’t notice,” Zoe said, earnestly, when her mother mentioned it.

Dawn Bennett describes Phenyx’s mom as like her big sister. Nicole Andolsek uses the same word to describe Dawn.

“We just have kind of been like that for each other,” Nicole said. “It’s not like me being there for her, or her being there for me. It’s just (how it is), right?”

The same goes for their daughters.

“They have a lot in common,” Phenyx’s mom said. “They’re both go-getters.”

Caleb Hutton: 425-339-3454; chutton@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @snocaleb.

Want to help?

Find Zoe at the Dream Builders car show, which runs from 10 a.m. Sunday at the Evergreen Speedway, 14405 179th Ave. SE. The show itself is a benefit for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Snohomish County. Go to dreambuilderscarshow.com.

And you can find out more about Zoe’s treats at barkforacausedogtreats.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Olivia Vanni / The Herald 
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County.
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mukilteo mayor vetoes council-approved sales tax

The tax would have helped pay for transportation infrastructure, but was also set to give Mukilteo the highest sales tax rate in the state.

South County Fire plans push-in ceremony for newest fire engine

Anybody who attends will have the opportunity to help push the engine into the station.

Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring gives the state of the city address at the Marysville Civic Center on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in Marysville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Marysville council approves interim middle housing law

The council passed the regulations to prevent a state model code from taking effect by default. It expects to approve final rules by October.

x
State audit takes issue with Edmonds COVID grant monitoring

The audit report covered 2023 and is the third since 2020 that found similar issues with COVID-19 recovery grant documentation.

Bothell
Bothell man pleads guilty to sexual abuse of Marysville middle schoolers

The man allegedly sexually assaulted three students in exchange for vapes and edibles in 2022. His sentencing is set for Aug. 29.

Larsen talks proposed Medicaid cuts during Compass Health stop in Everett

Compass Health plans to open its new behavioral health center in August. Nearly all of the nonprofit’s patients rely on Medicaid.

Kathy Johnson walks over a tree that has been unsuccessfully chainsawed along a CERCLA road n the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest on Thursday, July 10, 2025 in Granite Falls, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
How Roadless Rule repeal could affect forests like Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie

The Trump administration plans to roll back a 2001 rule protecting over 58 million acres of national forest, including areas in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie area.

Community members gather for the dedication of the Oso Landslide Memorial following the ten-year remembrance of the slide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Daily Herald garners 6 awards from regional journalism competition

The awards recognize the best in journalism from media outlets across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

Edmonds police officers investigate a shooting that occurred at 236/Edmonds Way Thursday in Edmonds, Washington. (Edmonds Police Department).
Jury convicts Edmonds man in fatal shooting of rideshare driver

After three hours, a 12-person jury convicted Alex Waggoner, 22, of second-degree murder for shooting Abdulkadir Shariif, 31, in January 2024.

Britney Barber, owner of Everett Improv. Barber performs a shows based on cuttings from The Everett Herald. Photographed in Everett, Washington on May 16, 2022. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
August 9 will be the last comedy show at Everett Improv

Everett improv club closing after six years in business.

Logo for news use featuring Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Snohomish County will host climate resiliency open house on July 30

Community members are encouraged to provide input for the county’s developing Communitywide Climate Resiliency Plan.

Monroe Mayor Geoffrey Thomas talks to the crowd about the new "Imagine Monroe" city flag and symbol before the ribbon cutting on Monday, July 14, 2025 in Monroe, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Monroe unveils its new $17M City Hall and municipal court

Mayor Geoffrey Thomas showcased the new campus to residents, local and state officials during a celebration Monday.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.