TLDR: I’m shaving my head for childhood cancer research!

When I was about 4 years old, I met a girl who would change my life forever.

I remember it was raining the day my dad took me to the children's hospital where he worked. I had a mop of curly hair that was made even wilder thanks to the humidity. I was small and lively and the happiest little thing you've ever seen. I had an infectious laugh and a smile that could thaw the coldest of hearts on the coldest Cleveland days, a raven-haired Little Miss Sunshine. I didn't know it yet, but when my father took me to the hospital that day, I was being put to work work and putting that charm to good use. I was going to make someone smile. And that someone was a young girl whom we shall call Emily.

Emily had cancer. She had always had cancer. She never knew a life without it, without being sick, without being shuffled in and out of hospitals, getting treatments that would never cure her, but could maybe give her a chance of living a life she could enjoy, maybe. After years and years of fighting and winning some battles and losing others, it began to look like Emily’s fight would soon be over.

Surprisingly, she didn’t look sick. Her hair was thin and grew in little tufts, her face was round and ruddy, probably from steroids and such, but I didn’t know any better. She looked happy. Her smile filled her entire face and illuminated the small hospital room, that with anyone else would have look somber, but with her was filled with energy. Even at her stage, she was still very much alive.

She taught me my first knock-knock joke, the banana-orange one. Classic. I told her jokes, ones I’d read in those joke books in the school library. She told me her favorite color was yellow, like the sun, like the hospital robe that covered her fragile body. She was older than me, but that didn’t bother us. We laughed and we laughed like we’d been friends for years. I was happy to have made a new friend. I told Emily that as soon as she was out of the hospital, we would go to the park and make snowmen and sled down the hill next to the ice rink. I was optimistic, positive that she would be better any day now.

A few days later, my father came home to the hospital and told me he had something important to tell me. He told me that my friend Emily was a very strong and very brave girl. He told me that Emily had been sick for a long time. She was in pain, and was tired of being in pain. She had made a very brave choice and decided she didn’t want to continue treatment. Emily died that morning. She was 15.

I am extraordinary lucky to live the life I do, one where I am given the opportunity to make a difference, no matter how small, and be able to honor the lives of people who have changed mine. Emily has always been in my heart and motivator for me to work hard and try my best. I’ve always wanted to do something that would allow me share her story and do some good in this world.

This year, I made a resolution for myself that I would be more vocal and more passionate about the thing I care about.

So I will be doing two things.

1) On March 4th, TexasTHON will hold our annual The Day Of Dance Marathon to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Foundation.

If I raise my THON goal in 24 HOURS, starting January 21st at 9am, I will do something a little bit crazy.

I’ll dye my hair the color of your choosing.

Yes, any color.

The color with the most votes by donation wins!

** if you’re wondering why I’m not donating my hair, I cut it last year to donate and have since kept it short and do not have enough length to be accepted by any organization. :(

(Sorry Mom and Dad, I know you always warn me against ruining my hair, but it’s okay!! Because….)

2) On April 7th, I will be participating in Brave the Shave and shaving my head for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, which raises money for childhood cancer research so we may help more kids like Emily live the long, healthy lives they should.

I’ve set my goal to $1000. Once I reach $250, I will again dye my hair the color of your choosing, again at $500, $750, then at $1000, it’s time to go bald!

Please donate to support these wonderful causes, or just to see me with crazy hair, then no hair.

Thank you for reading and for helping me honor Emily and the many beautiful lives lost to childhood cancer.