Local girl donates hair to Locks of Love in honor of her cousin

June 24, 11:59 AMSt. Louis Family & Parenting ExaminerAngela Atkinson

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Image Credits: C.McCray

Megan Hediger is a 12-year-old 7th grader from Greenville. She plays volleyball, softball and basketball and is active in 4-H, showing hogs and sheep.

Her cousin, Trystan Watson, just had her sixth birthday and enjoys dancing. Megan's and Trystan's moms grew up together, even living on the same block, so the girls have always been close.

When Megan learned that  Trystan had bone cancer, Megan decided to give her hair to Locks of Love in Trystan’s honor. Megan hadn’t had her hair cut since kindergarten. In fact, she’d previously decided that she’d never cut her hair again.

Amy Peterson helps Trystan cut Megan's hair for Locks of Love

Locks of Love is a charity that makes wigs from donated human hair and distributes them to children who lose their hair due to illness or illness treatment.

"Our mission is to return a sense of self, confidence and normalcy to children suffering from hair loss by utilizing donated ponytails to provide the highest quality hair prosthetics to financially disadvantaged children. The children receive hair prostheses free of charge or on a sliding scale, based on financial need," says Locks of Love's mission statement.

Trystan and Megan pose for an "after" shot.

 Megan’s mom, Crystal McCray, says that while they originally thought that Trystan would get Megan’s hair, they learned otherwise.

“A wig will be made from her hair but it is unlikely that Trystan will receive it herself,” Crystal says. “It will help another little girl though, so she did it in Trystan’s honor. Megan decided all by herself to do this.”

Megan donated her hair at A Design Team, a Greenville beauty salon owned and operated by Amy Peterson, who often helps people to donate hair to Locks of Love.

Megan’s mom couldn’t be more pleased with her daughter’s selfless act.

“Megan has made me so proud of her in everything that she is and has accomplished in her life,” says Crystal. “I don’t think I would change anything about her upbringing.”