Hi Friends! This is my 7th, and last year (I think), shaving my head for Pediatric Cancer Research.
Many of you may not know why I got involved with St. Baldrick's...if you are so inclined to read... here is my why...
April of 2010, my beautiful, vibrant, loyal, and silly friend, Kristin George Porter was diagnosed with cancer. To this day, we don't know what type of cancer took her from us. She fought so hard, for her kids, for her husband, for her family and friends. We all believed she was going to beat this awful disease.
Unfortunately, cancer stole her from us a mere 15 months after diagnosis on June 28th, 2011. About 2 months prior to that sad day, Kristin, 4 other friends and I were able to come together for a Girl's Trip in Portsmouth, NH. (a hip little city about 15 minutes from our college town of Durham, were we all met.) This trip is something that will be cemented in my mind and heart. We had deep, meaningful conversations. We were able to share our love with Kristin and raise her spirits and resolve to fight. At one of our dinners, she was sharing how she was going to loose her hair again (it had grown back from her treatments that fall and she was stunning with her pixie cut). She said, "I wish that I had someone to shave her head with me." I told her that I would and she responded with, "I know you would and I love you for that. But you live in California." She lived in Massachusetts.
You know how when people loose someone they love, often they feel that they didn't express themselves fully or say goodbye. I feel so lucky that I was able to have that with Kristin. At the end of the weekend, I gave her a hug, felt her fragile frame, and knew in my heart it was going to be the last time I saw her on this earth.
My heart broke when she passed from this earth. I have lost people I loved in the past, but this was different. We thought she could kick cancer's ass... because she was Kristin, damn it! I knew that I had to do something with my grief. In the year after her passing, I decided that I needed to honor that conversation with Kristin and shave my head. On March 2nd, 2013, with love in my heart for my friend, nerves in my belly, and a group of brave young students from Coyote Ridge Elementary, we shaved our heads in solidarity with those young children battling cancer and fundraised for pediatric cancer research. My heart soared on this day as I felt Kristin smiling down on me - I knew she must be thinking I was a crazy - but loving me just the same - as she always did. Because, honestly, I am a little bit crazy (in a good way, I think!)
In my preparation for leading a team of students from Coyote Ridge to the mall for our Head-Shaving event, I found out that ONLY 4% of federal research funding is set aside for pediatric cancer research. These are our children, our future... yet they are getting the shit end of the stick - so to say - as far as research funds were concerned. Cancers that strike kids are different than cancers that affect adults. The same treatment can't be applied. About 60% of all funding for drug development in adult cancers comes from pharmaceutical companies. For kids? Almost none, because childhood cancer drugs are not profitable. St. Baldrick's helps to fill this funding gap for research on cures for childhood cancer. Since St. Baldrick's was established, they have raised 26.2 million dollars and yet, there is still a funding gap. Even for those kids who survive, the battle is not over. A recent study shows that because of the treatments they had as kids, by the time they’re 45, more than 95% of survivors will have a chronic health problem and 80% will have severe or life-threatening conditions. So in addition to finding cures, a lot of research is focused on preventing the lifelong damage that results from surgeries, radiation and chemotherapies given while young bodies and brains are just developing. Even during treatment, kids face all kinds of side effects, some very uncomfortable, others life-threatening. That’s why St. Baldrick’s also funds research to improve supportive care for patients.
In the year that followed, we found out that one of our sorority sister's (from UNH) daughter Maggie was fighting cancer. Another team of brave young students from Coyote Ridge accompanied me to the mall for our 2nd year of head shaving. The following year, my rock star friend, Kristen Sanger approached me about doing an event together at Coyote Ridge since she recently had a friend who's daughter was diagnosed with cancer. Thus began our journey of hosting our very own St. Baldricks events. Every year we add more Honored Children to our event. Honored Children are those who have fought bravely fought the disease. Some of our Honored Children are in remission and we celebrate with them at our Head-Shaving event. Some are in heaven and we remember them and honor them with our bald heads and smiles.
I could go on and on but if you have read this far, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. As I mentioned above, please consider a donation to this amazing cause... or better yet, JOIN US in shaving your head to stand in solidarity with those children who have or are currently battling this horrendous disease. Thank you
