Participant 1110566

Nick Psaris Before
Nick Psaris After

Nick Psaris

shaved to cure childhood cancers!

Mar 3, 2023 • 4:00 pm

Event: Hong Kong International School 16th Annual St. Baldrick's Event

At: MS Black Box Theatre

700 Tai Tam Reservoir Road, Middle School Gym, Tai Tam HK

Conquer Kids' Cancer

Fundraising

$31,574Raised

$30,000 GOAL

$30,000 GOAL

(888) 899-2253

Download Donation Form

Participant 1110566

Participant 1110566

Milestones & Stretch Goals

$ 31,574
  • GOAL 30,000 $

Every 2 minutes a child is diagnosed with cancer. Help me fund the research that will save their lives!

Fundraising

$31,574Raised

$30,000 GOAL

$30,000 GOAL

(888) 899-2253

Download Donation Form

Participant 1110566

Celebrating 25 Years

St. Baldrick’s started as a grassroots effort 25 years ago, driven by people who believe in helping kids with cancer.

National Partner

I shaved to raise money for childhood cancer research with: Team Jasmine

Mar 3, 2023 • 4:00 pm

Event: Hong Kong International School 16th Annual St. Baldrick's Event

At: MS Black Box Theatre

700 Tai Tam Reservoir Road, Middle School Gym, Tai Tam HK

I shaved to raise money for childhood cancer research with: Team Jasmine

I put shaving cream on my daughter's head.

Yes, I put shaving cream on my daughter's head to shave off the beautiful long locks that chemotherapy had not yet shed. The alternative was to watch as chunks of hair fell across her shoulders and pillow for days on end. Jasmine's transformation was now complete. Instead of being the new kid on the block she was a seasoned patient of the pediatric cancer ward of Hong Kong's Queen Mary Hospital. She wore hospital-provided pajamas, had tubes protruding from her chest, and wore a night cap all day to keep the heat from escaping her now-bald head.

I'm shaving my head in solidarity with all cancer patients in general, and pediatric cancer patients specifically, because the standard treatments are barbaric and have debilitating long-term effects for those who survive:

- Heart and lung problems due to chemotherapy and radiation treatments

- Slowed or delayed growth (in the bones or overall)

- Changes in the ability to have children

- Learning problems

- Increased risk of other cancers later in life

Children don't develop cancer because they smoke cigarettes or receive too much sun exposure. They don't typically get cancer because their parents or grandparents had cancer either. Pediatric cancers occur because children's cells divide frequently, and mistakes in cell division can lead to the creation of a single cancerous cell.

Jasmine was very tall and growing fast -- and that is where the problem began. As the cells in her right fibula divided, a small mistake in replication changed the DNA in a single cell just enough to become cancerous. And instead of dying, that cell continued to divide without bounds. Jasmine had bone cancer (osteosarcoma).

Chemotherapy is designed to kill fast-growing tumor cells. And as a side-effect, it kills other fast-growing cells as well: nails, blood, mucous membranes and -- most visibly -- hair. After a few months of chemotherapy, the valiant doctors at Queen Mary hospital removed her right fibula and all traces of cancer in her left leg. With the chemotherapy behind her, Jasmine's hair grew back curlier than before -- but just as beautiful!

But it was already too late. Although cancer cells could not be detected, they had already escaped, only to reveal themselves 8 months later. The cells originally reappeared in both of her lungs and then surfaced in her right thigh and shoulder, left ring finger as well as deep in her chest.

Jasmine resumed chemotherapy treatment at New York's Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. After the tumors in her lungs, thigh and chest were removed, her right humerus was replaced with a metal replacement and her right ring finger was amputated, we held out hope that she had beaten the 'emperor of all maladies'.

Sadly, it was not to be. Cancer continued to ravage her body. Her right arm had to be amputated after the remaining cancer-weekend bone snapped. Her left knee began to swell and was treated with radiation -- merely to reduce the pain. And finally, her lungs quickly filled with tumors depriving her of oxygen. Jasmine passed away early one morning in her morphine-induced sleep as my wife and I sat beside her -- holding her remaining four-fingered hand.

At her death, my baby girl was missing a fibula, a finger as well as an arm. She had scars across her torso, metal wires holding her rib cage in place and tubes protruding from her chest. And, she had no hair.

I'm shaving to raise money for pediatric cancer research so the children of the future may never have to face devastation like this. Please donate today in honor of the 400,000 children globally who are diagnosed each year with cancer.

My Roles:

  • Shavee
  • Team Captain

Your Roles

Barber Details

Nick Psaris has joined the ranks of:

Knight of the Bald Table

Be it known to all that this participant has dedicated at least seven years of service to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation helping kids with cancer throughout all the land.

St. Baldrick’s Honored Kids

Kids with cancer are our reason for it all. They’re the inspiration behind our event and the reason we’re helping fund childhood cancer research. We believe all kids should be able to grow up and turn their dreams into realities. Join our event or make a donation, and click the photos below to read their incredible stories.

Recent Donors

View All
  1. Mr.and Mrs. Richard Chang In Memory of Jasmine Psaris 8/10/2023
  2. Bank of America-MG Program 6/29/2023
  3. Bank of America-MG Program 6/29/2023
  4. Bank of America-MG Program 5/25/2023
  5. Bank of America-MG Program 5/25/2023

Celebrating 25 Years

St. Baldrick’s started as a grassroots effort 25 years ago, driven by people who believe in helping kids with cancer.

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