Oncology Team Members Make the Cut to Donate for Children Suffering Hair Loss

Oscar, a team member at St. Anthony’s for about six years, didn’t want just anyone to cut his hair. Instead, he turned to Beth Eschenfelder, St. Anthony’s oncology nurse manager to do the honors. 

Beth, who was a hairdresser for 16 years before becoming a nurse, was more than happy to do it. In fact, she has cut ponytails that were going to be donated many times. But this was only the second team member whose hair she has cut for donation in her 21 years with BayCare. 

“We see how the loss of hair impacts people and their self-image,” Beth said. “I’m happy to help in any way that I can.”

Beth set up a makeshift salon on the sixth floor of the hospital’s new patient tower. She put a drape over Oscar, just as she would any of her other customers, and began to carefully comb his hair. She placed one rubber band in his hair and then another. 

“It’s the mistake that some stylists make when they are cutting a ponytail,” Beth said. “You need that second rubber band so that the hair doesn’t just scatter and fall to the floor.”

After putting in the rubber bands, Beth took out her shears and started to snip. She gently worked at it for a few seconds until she held the ponytail in her hand. Beth tied it with a pink bow and showed it to Oscar and the other oncology team members who joined to cheer them on. 

“I am absolutely thrilled to have a team member that is willing to do this being that we are an oncology floor,” Beth said.

Although he won’t personally know the child who will get his hair as part of a wig, Oscar is happy to do it. And he plans to donate again.

Oscar hopes that his donation will encourage others to do the same. “I like donating my hair because it has a real purpose behind it,” he said. “I think there are team members who would like to donate their hair to help others.”