LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP: Shaved heads help fight cancer

y Lea Kahn, Packet Media Group
   Dara Sheller was drying off her 6-year-old daughter, Samara, after her evening bath when she noticed an unusual mass on the little girl’s leg.
   Samara had been outside playing, and Ms. Sheller thought perhaps she had bumped her leg or maybe it was a really big insect bite.
   When the mass did not go away, her husband, Larry Sheller, took Samara to the pediatrician to check on it. The Shellers were supposed to go out to dinner after the appointment, but there was a delay.
   That’s because the pediatrician wanted the Chesterfield couple to take Samara to the University Medical Center at Princeton for an X-ray of the little girl’s leg. It took a few more days to make a diagnosis — rhabdomyosarcoma — a rare childhood cancer.
   After seeking several “second opinions” to determine whether Samara’s leg could be saved, it became clear it would have to be amputated. The surgery was performed at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in October.
   It was not an easy decision to make, Ms. Sheller said. She has taken a leave of absence from her position as an English teacher at West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South. She has been a teacher in the school district for 13 years.
   ”I am not going to lie. It has been difficult. We never saw it coming. It has been a nightmare,” Ms. Sheller said.
   She described her daughter as a “trooper,” adding “we find ways to laugh every day. We sing and we have a good time. Her friends visit her all the time, and we have ‘play dates’ so Samara does not get lonely.”
   A prosthetic leg for her daughter, who is now 7 years old, should be ready in about six weeks, Ms. Sheller said. Everyone will be very happy when she gets the prosthetic leg because it will allow Samara to have more freedom to move on her own.
   In the meantime, Samara’s older brother, Justin, wears a special “Super Samara” T-shirt to school all the time, Ms. Sheller said. He is 9 years old.
   There were plenty of pink “Super Samara” T-shirts on display — well, actually, being worn by Samara’s supporters — Saturday afternoon at Amalfi’s restaurant in Lawrence Township. Samara was one of two honorees at the annual St. Baldrick’s Foundation event, which raises money for childhood cancer research.
   The fundraiser drew more than 200 volunteer “shavees” — adults and children who volunteered to have their heads shaved to raise money for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. The daylong event raised $118,101.92, surpassing the goal of $75,000.
   While most of the shavees were adults, there were many children who took part. One of the youngest shavees was 4-year-old Jackson Zalaznick. He joined his father, Jacob Zalaznick, in giving up his hair to raise money for childhood cancer research.
   Mr. Zalaznick heard about the St. Baldrick’s Foundation fundraiser from some friends last year and took part in it. This year, in the spirit of “like father, like son,” Jackson told his father he wanted to do it, too.
   ”Physically, (the haircut) feels great. Emotionally, it is rewarding because of the children you are helping,” Mr. Zalaznick said.
   But volunteering to have your head shaved is not just a “guy thing.” Two 7-year-old girls — Nidhi Das and Charlotte Luckey — signed up to have their heads shaved. The best friends are second-graders at a Lawrence Township elementary school.
   The two girls climbed up onto the stools and waited to have their heads shaved. Nidhi’s black hair was almost shoulder length while Charlotte’s brown hair fell below her shoulders. The beautician pulled some of Charlotte’s hair into a ponytail and snipped it off. Charlotte smiled.
   ”It feels like it’s cold,” Nidhi said after she jumped down from the stool, sporting fuzz where there had been hair a few minutes ago.
   ”It feels kind of weird,” Charlotte said.
   Both girls agreed they wanted to help raise money to help children who have cancer.
   ”Nidhi inspired me (to participate). It’s a good idea. Nidhi said she was going to do it, and I thought that was a good idea. I wasn’t really afraid (to have my head shaved). I want to do it again next year,” Charlotte said.
   Jacob Luckey, Charlotte’s father, said he was very proud of his daughter.
   ”I am proud of how selfless she is as a person. It’s just who she is. She can do it again next year if she wants to,” Mr. Luckey said.
    For more information about the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, visit www.stbaldricks.org.