Metchosin 9-year-old donates first haircut in 5 years to cancer charity
If you ask Keilah what she’s best at, the nine-year-old will answer quite quickly. “Probably being myself,” she smiles, before bursting into infectious laughter.
And being Keilah means jumping on the trampoline in the sun, doing 50 pushups just for fun, and growing her hair really, really long.
“When it’s all brushed out it’s very soft,” she says.
And when her thick, red hair is not brushed out, Keilah’s mom Marina says it’s a disaster.
“My husband, bless his heart, is an amazing dad,” Marina says. “But he did not brush her hair for two full weeks while I was away.”
When Marina returned home, expecting her daughter’s hair to look like waves cascading past her waist, she found it knotted and matted in a clump on her head. The only remedy was cutting it all off.
“Ever since then,” Keilah says. “I’ve been growing my hair out for five years.”
Then one day: “Mom, I want to shave my head,” Keilah recalls saying when she returned from school. “And we both started sobbing.”
Keilah has just learned about cancer after suddenly losing her nana to the disease.
“I think the emotions just rose up,” Marina says. “She realized it’s not just old people, it’s children too. That’s where it really hit close to home.”
While Keilah wanted to shave her head, she talked with her parents and decided to do something for charity. The girl started an online fundraiser to support Wigs 4 Kids BC with a goal of raising $250.
So far, she’s raised more than $1,600.
But that’s not all. Keilah is also donating more than half her hair, approximately 15 inches.
“I’m nervous,” Keilah says as the stylist readies her scissors. “And very excited.”
This is the nine-year-old’s first cut since she was four.
“Oh my gosh,” she whispers as the weight of her hair releases. She reaches to feel what remains, before covering her mouth with her hands. “That’s so weird!”
Her defining feature is now a selfless gift, with just two conditions: brush often, but have fun even more.
“I really hope they enjoy it,” Keilah smiles, holding on to the long lock of hair. “And it makes them feel happy.”
While Marina couldn’t feel more proud of her girl – “It’s just heart throbbing!” – she says Keilah’s act of kindness is also being recognized from above.
“I think nana’s looking down and crying in heaven” Marina says, holding back tears. “And is so proud of her granddaughter.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW Life got in the way of one woman's reunion with her father, but a DNA test gained her a family
Anne Marie Cavner was the closest she'd ever been to meeting her biological father, but then life dealt her a blow. From an unexpected loss to a host of new relationships, a DNA test changed her life, and she doesn't regret a thing.
NEW Keeping these exotic pets is 'cruel' and 'dangerous,' Canadian animal advocates say
Canadian pet owners are finding companionship beyond dogs and cats. Tigers, alligators, scorpions and tarantulas are among some of the exotic pets they are keeping in private homes, which pose risks to public safety and animal welfare, advocates say.
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.
Psychologist becomes first person in Peru to die by euthanasia after fighting in court for years
A Peruvian psychologist who suffered from an incurable disease that weakened her muscles and had her confined to her bed for several years, died by euthanasia, her lawyer said Monday, becoming the first person in the country to obtain the right to die with medical assistance.
Quebec Health Department reports 28 cases of eye damage linked to solar eclipse
Quebec's Health Department says it has received 28 reports of eye damage related to the April 8 total solar eclipse that passed over southern parts of the province.
Diver pinned under water by an alligator figured he had choice. Lose his arm or lose his life
An alligator attacked a diver on April 15 as he surfaced from his dive, nearly out of air. His tank emptied with the gator's jaws crushing the arm he put up in defence.
How quietly promised law changes in the 2024 federal budget could impact your day-to-day life
The 2024 federal budget released last week includes numerous big spending promises that have garnered headlines. But, tucked into the 416-page document are also series of smaller items, such as promising to amend the law regarding infant formula and to force banks to label government rebates, that you may have missed.
Which foods have the most plastics? You may be surprised
'How much plastic will you have for dinner, sir? And you, ma'am?' While that may seem like a line from a satirical skit on Saturday Night Live, research is showing it's much too close to reality.
opinion I've been a criminal attorney for decades. Here's what I think about the case against Trump
Joey Jackson, a criminal defence attorney and a legal analyst for CNN, outlines what he thinks about the criminal case against Donald Trump in the 'hush money trial.'