Student donates hair as her own graduation gift
Published: May 31, 2005
When Melody Ferguson met someone at church who had lost her hair as the result of a medical condition, she decided she wanted to make a difference in the life of someone in such a situation.
On Wednesday, the time to do so arrived.
“I’ve been thinking about this since the sixth grade,” Melody said. “I knew mine would grow back.”
But when the appointment for her haircut arrived Wednesday afternoon, it wasn’t easy to sit down for the shearing.
“I’m kind of scared,” she said. After all, she was going to go through middle school graduation the next day with an entirely new look.
Almost 12 inches of her long hair were boxed for shipment to Locks of Love, a non-profit organization based in Florida that provides hairpieces to economically disadvantaged youth 18 years and younger suffering from long-term medical hair loss.
The timing of the haircut meant the eighth grader would arrive at school for the last day of class this year — and for graduation into high school — sporting a new “do.”
“I’m going to surprise everybody,” Melody said. “I’m afraid nobody will know me.”
They were indeed surprised, her mother, Vickie McNutt, said Friday. But they were also impressed.
“She said everybody just thought it was awesome,” her mother said. “And I didn’t even recognize her. I asked her brother (Lucas) where Melody was, and he said she was just here. She just looks like a different little girl.”
She added that her daughter has been talking about donating her hair for two years, and let it grow long just for that reason.
Melody said she has become known at school for her long locks. But that won’t be the case now — at least, for a while.
Brandy Clark at Looking Good did the honors, and is also handling getting the donation to Locks of Love. But more than just a haircut was involved; she spent much of the afternoon getting her hair styled and highlighted.
The actual cut, however, came first and it came quickly. After a shampoo, the long wet strands of hair were clipped and preparing for shipment.
Other patrons and hair stylists in the shop smiled with approval, along with Melody’s mother who watched the first part of the hair session.
“It will probably grow back in several months,” Melody said with an optimist tone of voice before the cutting began.
“Then you’ll be able to do this again next spring,” an observer suggested.
“Well, maybe,” Melody smiled
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