Caledonia Argus

Haircut will help others

Posted: 5/28/02

by Jane Palen
Managing editor

Nine-year-old Katie Goetzingerís hair went to Florida without her last week.

A third grader at St. Maryís School, Katie decided that she wanted to enjoy summer vacation without the hassle and heat of her long hair, which fell nearly to her waist. She made a decision several months ago to get the first real hair cut of her life. Until last week, she had only had trims.

Some time ago Katieís mom, Susan Goetzinger, clipped a newspaper article regarding ìLocks of Love,î a Florida agency that makes hairpieces for children who for medical reasons have lost their hair. She told Katie that if she ever wanted to get her hair cut, she should consider donating it to Locks of Love.

Katie liked the idea of her hair being made into a hairpiece, and on Thursday her aunt, Ann Schmitz, gathered Katieís hair into a 12 inch- ponytail and cut it off.

In order for hair to be donated, it has to be at least 10 inches long. It takes about 12 ponytails to make one hairpiece.

The hairpieces differ from wigs in that they are not formed on a net base. Instead, they have a surgical silicone material as a base which fits on the head and forms a vacuum seal so that the hairpiece stays put without glue or tape. The hairpiece is sometimes referred to as a ìvacuum-fitted cranial prosthesis.î

The hairpieces are especially good for children because they fit so securely on the head through all kinds of activities. Locks of Love furnishes hairpieces only to children 18 and under with long-term hair loss, usually from a condition called alopecia areata, but also from radiation, burns or other conditions. Those able to pay are charged on a sliding fee scale, and those unable to afford it get the hairpieces free of charge.

Katie was going to wait until summer to get her hair cut, but one of her teachers at St. Maryís teased her about chickening out, so she decided to do it before the end of school to prove that she wouldnít.

Katie is now heading for summer feeling a little lighter, and said she doesnít really think itís such a big deal. But somewhere, a child will be able to swim and play without the self consciousness that comes from being without hair because Katie and others decided to share a unique gift with them.

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