Former Cancer Patient Donates Hair To Locks Of Love
(CBS) -- Somewhere in the next few days, a child who's battling cancer, who's lost their hair to chemotherapy, will get a special Christmas gift.
It will come from a special Northwest Side girl who gave her hair up at a Norwood Park beauty salon. She's an 11-year-old cancer survivor who's donating it through the Locks of Love program.
CBS 2's Mike Parker reports.
Abigail Mendoza and her 9-year-old sister, Amanda, proudly display the 10-inch-long swath of Abigail's hair that she is giving away.
"This is for you. Don't ever give up," Abigail says to whoever receives her gift.
Abigail was diagnosed with cancer at the age of three. She had Stage IV Neuroblastoma. The treatment included multiple surgeries, radiation, stem cell therapy—and chemotherapy. Because of that, she lost all of her hair.
But she and her medical team beat that cancer. It's gone now and has been since 2008.
Randy Owens' song "Braid My Hair" has special meaning to the Mendoza family.
"Every laugh, every breath, every time I tuck her in, it's like, OK, this is another day I get with her," Abigail's father, Michael Mendoza, says.
On her 10th anniversary of beating cancer, Abigail plans a fundraising drive to raise $10,100.10.
The money will go to the American Childhood Cancer organization.
