Locks of Love

My friend Brooks Allen Paul was diagnosed with bone cancer (osteosarcoma) when he was 15 years old. Just 3 months later, after a strict regimen of chemotherapy, the army of doctors treating him decided to amputate his leg to stop the cancer from spreading throughout his body. Brooks lost his left leg, his hair, and months of his life to cancer that first time. Chemo was nothing less than hell for him. He would be in the hospital for two weeks at a time with five day breaks in between so that the medicine that was meant to save his life wouldn't poison him. The cancer came back 5 more times, and Chemo became a routine part of Brooks' life. Though the Chemo took his hair, his strength, and his energy, Brooks maintained an overwhelmingly positive outward appearance. He loved talking about his leg and the cancer he had because he liked to educate people and because he liked to "sound like a hero." I loved his shamelessness. But Brooks, unfortunately, is an exception to an overarching rule of depression, self consciousness, and fear that often overcomes children and young adults who are diagnosed with cancer.
I want you to think for a moment of losing your own head of hair--going through months upon months of chemotherapy--a drug that not only makes you lose your hair but also makes you sick to your stomach and so weak that even getting out of bed seems beyond your capacity for endurance. The process, for some of us, seems unimaginable, but there are young people--children--enduring it every single day. Some of these children without money for the procedures and drugs which can save their lives, much less small comforts like a wig which can restore, in part, a child's sense of self and normalcy. Brooks hardly ever complained about losing his hair, but I know there are many children out there who are deeply affected by the loss of theirs, but have insufficient funds to buy hair prosthetics. This is why the Locks of Love foundation exists.
Locks of Love is an organization which makes wigs for children under the age of 21 who suffer hair loss from any kind of medical diagnosis. They take donations of money or hair from people around the world. Most people would not think of their own head of hair as a miracle--a gift that could be given--but this organization allows everyone who can grow their hair to give a gift that is not based in the cash-economy, but the love economy. By donating your hair to Locks of Love, you give a part of yourself without the expectation of anything in return, without even knowing who the gift is going to.
Donating is simple-- all you have to do is cut off at least 10 inches of healthy, non-bleached hair, put it in an envelope addressed to Locks of Love and send it off. More specific guidelines can be found at http://www.locksoflove.org/donate.html but the process really is that simple! I donated my hair 2 years ago and now have the blessing of knowing that I helped make a difference in someone's life.
Brooks died on March 26th of this year, but the memories of his struggle remain just as vivid as the happiest of my memories of him. I want everyone to know that what people in his situation need most are gifts of love and self and understanding. Brooks used to say-- "I'm like a duck, calm on the surface, but Paddling like hell underneath." It's important to recognize the struggle--mental, emotional, and physical--that is happening underneath everyone's calm exterior, and to give the gifts that represent the love and compassion that people need most.

http://www.locksoflove.org/index.html