Children, Cancer, and Standing Up for What I Believe: One Mother’s Story

by St. Baldrick's Foundation
April 25, 2013

Jessica Russ

St. Baldrick’s participant Jessica Russ writes about shaving her head in honor of kids with cancer and being an example for her son.

Over 230 men and women braved the shave on March 24th, as Quaker Steak and Lube celebrated their 11th annual St. Baldrick’s Day event, shaving heads to conquer kids’ cancer. One of these shavees was Jessica Russ, a mom, college student, and a server at the restaurant.

Jessica shares her story.

As a mother, I have watched my toddler grow and develop. I have been blessed that my son, Aiden, has only suffered mild earaches and runny noses, but this was not always the case.

While I was pregnant, we had a rough eight months. Between brutal morning sickness, stress tests, and an amniocentesis, my doctor prepared me for the worst possible outcome. Once Aiden was born, we realized that he was underdeveloped, but luckily, he has grown to be a carefree, healthy, adorable boy. He is my light, my love, and what I work hard for every day.

The first time I saw a St. Baldrick’s head-shaving event was at Quaker Steak and Lube, where I work as a waitress. Each year I have watched these brave men and women shave their heads and donate the money they have raised to fund childhood cancer research. I usually give my tips, but this year I felt I could do more.

Kids with cancer deserve more. For many of these children, cancer treatment causes them to grow up with lifelong health effects that could hinder them from doing everything in life that they hoped to do.

I am studying to be an Early Education Intervention Specialist, and I get to work with many students in different places in their lives. Some of these incredible students have mild disabilities, some more severe. I believe that no child should ever have to be told they can’t achieve something that they aspire to do.

My son may think that “mommy is silly” because she shaved her head, but I want him to grow up knowing that his mother stood up for what she believed in and set an example for him to follow.

Jessica-after-St-Baldricks.jpg

Jessica at the Quaker Steak and Lube event in Canton, Ohio

I could not be more proud of the work that the servers at Quaker Steak and Lube have done to help kids with cancer. They have truly gone above and beyond, selling wristbands, talking about it with each customer, donating their tips, and even shaving their heads. It is so wonderful to see people coming together for a higher need, and I feel very blessed to have been able to give my hair in support of these kids’ fight to survive.

Sure, some days I wake up and I am tired of being bald. But then I remember that at the end of each day, these kids with cancer feel tired, too. Tired of being sick. A child with a severe illness is a tough reality, and I wanted to give my hair, not to be a rebel or for my own gratification, but because each day, children with cancer give their lives for a cure.

You can be the one who stands up for kids with cancer. Be a shavee.

 Be A Shavee


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