Editor's Note: This article has been updated to reflect that Collin Martell lives in Rootstown and his sister, Jillian, has been cancer free for more than seven years.
Judging by the thick shock of brown hair already on his head, it would be hard for outsiders to tell that Collin Martell donated his hair near the start of the month.
Collin, 14, who lives in Rootstown, is a freshman at Rootstown High School. It's the second time he has donated his hair to those in need.
Since he was 12 years old, Collin has donated nearly 2 feet of hair to Maggie's Wigs 4 Kids of Michigan. According to its website, the nonprofit organization provides wigs and support services at no charge to children and young adults experiencing hair loss.
"I just kind of figured I didn't need it and someone else did," Collin said.
More: Bricks will stay on Freedom Street surface
More: Work underway to turn old church into new taproom for Suffield meadery
However, understanding why hair donations are important to the Martell family goes beyond Collin's philosophy. His 19-year-old sister, Jillian Martell, is a survivor of childhood cancer.
Their mom, Becky Martell, explained that at age 9, Jillian was diagnosed with melanoma. Collin was too young to remember most of it. The cancer was located on his sister's thigh and required a couple of surgeries to remove. When doctors thought Jillian was in the clear, the cancer grew back a couple of months later in the same spot.
Jillian endured chemotherapy for the next 12 months. Her hair thinned, Becky Martell said, but she did not use a wig. She was, however, around a lot of kids who did experience hair loss.
Helping Collin find an organization that gave families its wigs for free was very important to Becky and Collin's dad, Tim Martell. It was also important to Collin that his hair went to other kids.
"I definitely understand the financial impact that it can have on the family when a child's going through something like that," Becky Martell said. "I don't imagine most families, their kids going through cancer, can afford to buy a wig."
Jillian, now 19, has been cancer free for more than seven years. She is a student at the University of Toledo and is considering donating her own hair.
Kyle Martell, Collin's older brother, likes to keep his hair short. Collin did, however, inspire a cousin to grow out their hair.
Collin remains unflinching in his commitment to donating his hair. He has had a lot of fun styling it, too, especially the first time he grew it out. The stigma about boys with long hair, however, has not been lost on his mom. More than once she has heard people make rude comments about her son's appearance.
The first time he grew it out, especially, she said, people would call him a girl. Not just kids, either. Parents sitting in the bleachers of soccer games would mock Collin, too. Martell said she would cheer extra loud so they knew she was proud of her son and his commitment.
Martell said donating hair is a great opportunity to teach the kids to consider each person's story. Simply put, she said, do not judge a book by its cover. There are always ways to help people even without giving money. Donating hair and time sometimes can be even more valuable.
"Growing hair to donate is easy," Martell said. "Even if you don't have money, you can still donate your hair."
Collin donated around 8 to 10 inches of hair this time around. Though Wigs 4 Kids donors are not told specifically what happens to their hair after it is cut, Collin gave enough to make a shorter wig meant for a boy.
Contact reporter Kaitlyn McGarvey with local news by email at kmcgarvey@recordpub.com or on Twitter at @kaitlynmcg_rc.
This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: 'Hair care': Rootstown boy donates locks to children in need
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "A different kind of 'hair care': Rootstown student donates locks to children in need - Yahoo News"
Post a Comment