Why am I shaving my head, and why should you care?

My name is Adrian Herrera, I’m 15 years old, a sophomore at Lake Central High School — and I’M SHAVING MY HEAD for a great cause!

Almost two years ago, I got really sick. Since then, I’ve been to four major children’s hospitals, had countless tests, multiple brain surgeries, chemo treatments, and more needle pokes than I can count. Doctors still don’t know exactly what I have — they actually call me a “unicorn” because my condition is so rare.

Even though I don’t have cancer, I know what it’s like to live with a serious childhood illness. I know what it feels like to sit through infusions, to miss out on normal kid things, and to wonder, “What’s next?”

That’s why I’m shaving my head.

I’m doing it for the kids I see in hospital rooms and in the hospital playrooms. I’m doing it for my friend who fought cancer and is now in remission. I’m doing it for all of the kids whom I’ll never meet and for the families who have lost their child way too soon.

I can’t take away their illness — but I can empathize, I can stand with them, and WE can fund for them. If you’re able, please consider donating to help me support kids who are fighting battles they never asked for, kids like me, kids who just want to live life free of sickness, free of disease.

Being sick as a kid really sucks. Let’s make it a little less hard together.

Thank you so much for your support.

Sincerely, Adrian M. Herrera