This made me cry... kids shave their heads in support for friend taking chemo
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
United States
April 25, 2012 9:14pm CST
I just heard on the news that 30 boys got their heads shaved in solidarity to their friend/classmate who has osteosarcoma, bone cancer. The girl will lose her hair to chemo and the boys didn't want her to feel alone. That just touched me so much.
I was wondering how parents might do if their kid's friend had cancer and would lose their hair. I wonder if parents would let their kids ... boys and girls to shave their head in support of their friend.
I also wonder if a parent would shave his/her head in support of their own child having cancer. I remember a news anchor many years ago shaved her hair in support for her daughter who had cancer and getting chemo.. losing her hair.
What are your thoughts? Would you let your kid have his/her head shaved? Would you do it on yourself for your child? Why or why not?
3 people like this
15 responses
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
26 Apr 12
Hi PointlessQuestions, I think this just proves what I've always felt, there are many wonderful and compassionate young people out there. I would be very pleased if my child or grandchild wanted to shave their head to be in solidarity with a friend or classmate. I would also be happy to do so myself. Blessings.
2 people like this
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
26 Apr 12
Hi Pose! I think most kids and adults have a kind heart. I think kids get a bad reputation from the few that are selfish and mean. Blessings right back to you Pose.
@jureathome (5361)
• Philippines
26 Apr 12
I think there are other ways to show support other than shaving our heads. But, if my kid would insist in doing so, and feels so much for it, then I would not stand in their way.
2 people like this
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
26 Apr 12
Hair grows back. It's a worthy sacrifice for a friend fighting cancer. The mire I think about it I think I would also be willing to do it if I had a child or grandchild facing this. After all it is just hair and it would mean so much to the child fighting the disease. It could be my child or grandchild with bone cancer or some other kind of cancer. It's humbling to me. The more I think about it the mire it affects me as a living thing to do.
1 person likes this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
26 Apr 12
Last year when my husband was diagnosed with cancer, I offered to shave my head in support of him and asked the kids if they would be willing to do it as well. Of course, my daughter loves her hair and didn't want to do it. My son, on the other hand has kept his hair as close to bald as he could since then.
Now if a friend of my daughter's had cancer, I think that she would do it because it would show her friend how much she cared for them (with Daddy it was kind of a different story because he is already balding). And, if my child wanted to shave their head for that reason, I would certainly let them.
2 people like this
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
26 Apr 12
I'M sorry your husband had cancer. How is he now? I hope he is okay now.
I understand. I think your daughter would be more likely to sacrifice her hair for her best friend.
1 person likes this
@lady1993 (27224)
• Philippines
26 Apr 12
Yes, that is very touching indeed. She is so lucky to have friends like that who are wiling to shave their heads just so she won't feel sad. I hope she lives- she's too young to die...we shall pray for her full recovery.. 
If i were a parent i would let my child do what he or she wants..
If i were a parent i would let my child do what he or she wants..2 people like this
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
26 Apr 12
I tank it is great too. She has osteosarcoma which is a kind of bone cancer. I hope she lives and becomes cancer free.
1 person likes this
@averygirl72 (37845)
• Philippines
26 Apr 12
That is heartwarming! what a great way to show support to a friend taking chemo. It is a good idea it must not be seen in a different way. Probably if someone close to me have to undergo something like that, it could be a good way to show support and empathy.
2 people like this
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
26 Apr 12
Yes it would be a way of showing support. A lot of times when someone is different other kids react out if feat and shun a kid. This way lots of kids banded together to also make themselves like her to show their support. No one will make fun of her for being bald.
1 person likes this
@eunique317 (347)
• Philippines
26 Apr 12
Hi! That is truly a touching story. My former boss has cancer and now she is wearing a wig made out of her mom's hair. As for me, I think the kids can show their support in some other way. I will not allow my child to shave her head, well, basically because the school she is in now might see it as making a fashion statement and going against the rules instead of as a support towards a friend who is having chemo. I'll allow her to show her support in some other way.
2 people like this
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
26 Apr 12
I understand your reasoning. There are other was to show solidarity.
1 person likes this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
10 Oct 12
I think that this is a wonderful thing for anyone to do and they have my respect and support completely. One of the added concerns for anyone undergoing Chemotherapy is the trauma of hair loss and feeling out of place. Making that person feel more relaxed and confident is a genuine display of caring and has to be applauded.
@chrystaltears (3392)
• United States
26 Apr 12
Yes. I would do it for my child. I lost my sister to cancer.
Recently, a friend of mine had a husband dying from cancer. She and her daughter and others related and friends shaved their heads for him. It's so sweet.
I would not want anyone to do that for me, but it sure has to make someone feel special love to know others would go to that extent with all the people out there who would laugh and make fun if they did.
1 person likes this
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
26 Apr 12
Ithink that those who care that much to sacrifice their own hair make a huge statement if support for a person with cancer.
2 people like this
@laken02 (3065)
• United States
26 Apr 12
i think that is a great story, and as for me i would not shave my head but i would cut my hair and give some of my long hair to support the cause, becasue i have long hair and can spare alot and never miss it anyhow.. but if i shaved it off it would never grow back because my hair grows so slow.. and my daughter has thick hair and would give as well as hers grows fast, unlike mine..
2 people like this
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
26 Apr 12
It's so great when oeople can give their hair away. When I had really king hair I donated my hair. I think they took 10 inches off before shaping NY hair.
1 person likes this
@apoljuice1 (730)
• Philippines
26 Apr 12
if it's a question of allowing my kids to do something like that, I mean why not? I know what it 's like to stand up for something. It's good to know that kids have a sense of sympathy and they know how to show they care to a friend, or show support. If I were in the ill child's position, it would strengthen my hope. It would help me overlook a few things so that I wouldn't feel bad about the situation.
1 person likes this
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
26 Apr 12
I can truly admire their empathy. I can also understand why no girls showed support in this way. Boys had less hair to lose and it would grow back quickly. I would admire any student who thought enough if another kid fighting fir their life. I wouldn't feel there was some ulterior motive like the person above. I'm so saddened by that response. UFO thought this discussion would have gotten such a negative response I wouldn't have even started this discussion.
I don't know. Maybe I'm just in a depressed mood now and too irritated by that response. Sorry.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
2 May 12
pointless questions she is always l ike that, sort of sour grapish I think, do not let her bother you.she is a negative thinker anyway.
I would not shave my head solely because my hair takes forever to grow back and at my age I do not want to look like that for several years as it will not really change anythingt for the cancer patient.
@courtknee525 (3742)
• United States
26 Apr 12
That really is touching. The local news showed a story a while ago about a family where the child had cancer and the dad shaved his head. I think I would probably do the same for my kid too. My hair would eventually grow back so it's not a big deal.
If my kid wanted to shave his/her head to support a friend, I would probably cry because it's such a sweet thing to do. I'd make sure it was something they really wanted to do and then I'd let them get their head shaved.
1 person likes this
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
26 Apr 12
I think it is great that kids are so willing to sacrifice hair for their friend. I think almost any reasonable parent would not stand in the way of what their child wanted to do.
1 person likes this
@WakeUpKitty (8694)
• Netherlands
26 Apr 12
I wonder if my kid would like me to shave my hair off in case of.. I think not.
I also wonder if this act (only boys no girls?) is really out of solidarity or a way to get into the news. If it is the first case it would probl. the first group of kids in the world who would do such a thing. Most kids are not interested in others at all. Same with adult. They only care if it's too late, if someone killed him/herself after being bullied etc.
If my kid wants to do a thing like that I would find out first what the real reason is. If it's a pure one it's fine with me.
1 person likes this
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
26 Apr 12
Maybe the girl's mothers were too vain to allow their girls to show support in that way. Maybe also the had apathy similar to yours?
1 person likes this
@honest_efforts100 (1607)
• India
10 Oct 12
Shaving their heads for someone undergoing chemo is a simple kind of support. It maybe superficial for others but the support received by the recipient is overwhelming indeed. It will help them accept their situation and will not mope around thinking of what others will think of them now that their hair might fall out due to the effects of chemo.
@echoforever (5180)
• United States
10 Oct 12
Wow this is very sweet of those children. I thought of doing this for my mom who also has bone cancer now... I never did end up doing that but i did chop off my hair pretty short with her. I would support my child if they want to shave their heads. I would have done so had I had a shaver to do so at the time but we didn't own one...
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
2 May 12
hi p ointless questions yes its ve ry touching but not me, I couldgive up anything but not my hair,no way. if it was t o
help cancer patients b y making my long hair into a wig su re
but just to prove something no/ I can sympathize with cancer patients without looking like a geek. no shaving my hair it took
much too long to grow mylong hair like I like it. Why not because for me it takes forever for my hair to grow out and I already hav e a small bald spot on top from be ing in a fire years back.any thing
else I can give up but not my hair.
