After growing his hair for over a year and a half, Hockenbury donated 12 inches of hair, which he did in honor of those close to him who lost their lives to cancer. His generosity inspired Bubrow to donate 14 inches of her hair as well.
“In 2016 and 2017, I lost my father and then my mother to cancer. Then in 2018, I lost a dear friend and father figure to cancer as well,” Hockenbury says. “Donating my hair was my way of helping. I did this for them and for kids like Emily, who have faced or are currently facing a hard fight at such a young age.”
Emily was just 11 years old when she was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and received cancer treatment at the Children’s Cancer and Multipurpose Infusion Center at Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital.
“I was a dancer, and I was getting really bad back pain in my shoulder, so I went to the back doctor and that’s how I found out I had cancer,” Emily says. This October will mark her third year in remission.
“Bob and Kristina donating their hair means a lot because when I was going through chemo, I wanted a wig to wear so that I wouldn’t get bullied for not having hair or stand out from my peers,” Emily says. “What they and others are doing by donating their hair is going to help so many other kids feel like they fit in again.”
A quiet but profound act of showing her gratitude and support for Hockenbury, Emily let Hockenbury hold her beloved stuffed animal, Rosie, who she doesn’t let anyone else hold. Rosie played a crucial role while Emily was undergoing cancer treatment, staying by her side through every treatment.
Now feeling 12 inches lighter, Hockenbury looks forward to beginning the hair-growing journey again. Having previously donated 15 inches in December 2019 to Wigs for Kids – the only company he could find that accepted gray hair that would be dyed to the recipient’s requested color when made into the wig – this marks the beginning of his third journey to giving back and honoring the loved ones cancer took from him.
