Siblings to go bald in support of sister, who has cancer

OAKLAND — Twelve-year-old Elora Gariano, of Pleasant Hill, is pretty sure that kids will make fun of her when she shows up to school next week totally bald, having shaved off her long dark-blond locks in solidarity with her twin sister, Ariel, who lost her hair during treatments for a rare form of muscle cancer.

“They might try to tease me, but I do not really care,” Elora stated firmly earlier this week. “I’m doing this for my sister.”
Indeed, Elora and the twins’ older brother, Ian, 16, will boldly go under the razor Saturday, joined by almost 250 other soon-to-be Vin Diesel look-alikes — from friends and family of patients to hospital staff and local police and fire fighters — during the 2011 St. Baldrick’s Foundation event at Children’s Hospital Oakland.
The event, in its fourth year at Children’s Hospital, draws awareness and serves as a key fundraiser, supporting research specifically for cancer in children. The goal this year is to reach more than $100,000 in donations as backers of “shavees” contribute to the cause, on-line or at the medical center Saturday.
“We were all amazed by the community response last year,” stated Crystal Gariano, mom of Ariel, Elora and Ian. She works in the oncology department at the hospital and is a co-organizer of the fundraiser. “It’s been growing every year, and last time we had 64 Oakland police officers, and we had Alameda and Oakland fire fighters and people from the Coast Guard. Ours was the
biggest event in the say last year. And it’s so great for the kids to see that kind of support.”
At least 25 barbers and cosmeticians have concurred to volunteer their time Saturday. While the cancer patients themselves must stay removed from the general crowd to avoid infections, they will be able to watch the hair-raising scene from a second-floor area, stated Dr. Caroline Hastings.
Ariel will be among them, likely sassing her sister from there, her mom said.
While the family makes jokes and maintains a hopeful outlook, the prognosis for Ariel is not good. The girl began her battle with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of muscle cancer, in late 2007, Hastings said.
“Ariel went through more than a year of treatment and has been in remission for more than two years,” Hastings said. “Then she had a relapse in February, and we have begun aggressive treatments again, including chemo and radiation, and we will think about possibly two or three surgeries to remove the tumor. And, of course, we remain hopeful.”
During the first round of treatments three years ago, Ariel lost her hair; her father and brother immediately shaved their heads in support. But it was a surprise to the family when Elora concurred to join in.
“Ari’s our tomboy, but Elora is a ridiculously girlie-girl,” Gariano said. “She practically sneezes glitter. So she was sort of horrified by the whole hair thing.
“But as she watched what her sister was going through, she felt she wanted to do this. They decided that, as long as Ari did not have hair, neither did Elora.”
During the joyful period of remission, Ariel resumed her passions — “Harry Potter,” “Dr. Who,” comics, video games and, of course, playing with her beloved puppy Squishy. Both girls’ hair grew out again, and they celebrated when they finally had enough length to pull into a ponytail.
After the latest treatments, Ariel’s hair fell out just last week. Her mom feels the entire experience may be more difficult this time, as Ariel’s condition is more dire.
“The first time, we had fun buying hats and things,” Gariano said. “I do not think it will be that way this time. And for both girls, now at age 12 and in junior high, being bald is much more traumatic in and of itself. But Elora is determined.”
Any hair from the event that is longer than 8 inches will be donated to Locks of Love, which provides hair pieces to kids who have lost their hair during medical treatments. The rest will go to a group that uses human hair to absorb oil after spills, Gariano said.
Each year, 160,000 kids worldwide are diagnosed with cancer. Since 2000, the St. Baldrick’s Foundation — a fictitious name combining “bald” and “St. Patrick” — has hosted more than 3,400 head-shaving events in the United States and 28 other countries, raising more than $90.6 million for research into the disease.
WHAT: St. Baldrick’s Foundation head-shaving event WHEN: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday WHERE: Children’s Hospital, Oakland, OPC Building Atrium, 744 52nd St. CONTACT: 415-439-9175 or go to www.stbaldricks.org/events/chosb2011