I was always kind of scared to shave my head. I wasn’t sure how it would look or how long it would take to grow back so I never really got around to doing it. To be honest, my own vanity kind of got the better of me. I knew I was going bald anyway but wasn’t keen to expedite the process (or really see how big my forehead actually was). 

Then in October 2015 my 2 year old son Brandon was diagnosed with Leukemia (AML).  Once the chemotherapy started to kick in, i would run my hands through his hair and clumps would come off.  It was a heartbreaking thing to see.  I knew in the coming several weeks he'd be bald so I booked an appointment to shave mine so we could be bald together. I took it all off. Shaved it right down to the wood. I shaved in solidarity for my son. I can’t think of anything worse than helplessly watching your child take on a beast like Leukemia or any cancer for that matter. The hair loss is mainly the only thing that shows you something is really wrong inside their bodies. I often prayed his Leukemia would jump from him to me and he would be ok but it doesn’t work like that. I wanted him to know we were in this together and my shaved head demonstrated to him without words that he wasn’t alone in his battle. I was with him and we were in it together as a family.

Thankfully and gratefully, my son is now 5 and has recovered remarkably well.  On March 1, 2019 we celebrated his 3rd year in remission. He’s able to attend school, eat what he wants, play sports and travel with the family.

On Tuesday May 7 we plan to shave again. Adam Johnston (a fellow 3x St. Baldricks shavee) and I are co-leading this year’s event and we plan to make it a celebration. A celebration for the survivors, to encourage those in the midst of treatment to keep fighting and honour those who had succumbed these horrific diseases. Cancer doesn’t just affect the person diagnosed. It filters through the whole family and takes over your entire life. I’ve seen it. My family has lived it. Participating in the St. Baldrick’s head shaving event (by coming to watch and support the event or attend as a shavee) is a fantastic way to get involved and advocate for children suffering from the many types of Childhood Cancers.