Hannah’s Haircut - A true story
By Patricia Lorenz (Hannah’s Grandma)

Once upon a time there was a beautiful little girl named Hannah who could hardly wait until her 7th birthday. That’s because something very special was going to happen that day.

Hannah, you see, had a heart as big as the moon. She was not only beautiful on the outside with her long bright red hair and sparkling green eyes, she was beautiful on the inside as well.

What made Hannah beautiful on the inside? She cared about other people, especially children who were sick. Hannah learned that some children lose their hair because they get a disease and they have to have chemotherapy to kill the disease. The chemicals they put into those little bodies are so strong that sometimes they kill not only the disease, but they also make the childrens’ hair fall out in clumps. Until their hair grows back, these children need to wear wigs.

The best wigs for children are the ones made of real human hair. Real human hair from children is absolute best. When Hannah was only five years old she learned about the company that makes wigs for children who are sick. “Mommy,” Hannah said, “I want to grow my hair long enough so I can give it to Wigs for Kids.”

So that’s what Hannah did. She spent all of kindergarten and half of first grade growing out her hair. When her 7th birthday came in February, Hannah talked it over with her mother and father and they decided that a haircut on her 7th birthday would be a very special thing indeed.

On Hannah’s birthday, Grandma Pat came to visit for two reasons, she wanted to help celebrate Hannah’s birthday and she wanted to be there when Hannah got her hair cut.

Grandma Pat went to Hannah’s school to pick her up and to wish her a very happy birthday. When Hannah hugged Grandma Pat, she flashed a big toothless grin. Hannah had lost her two front teeth and Grandma didn’t even know it!

Hannah, Hannah’s mom, Hannah’s brother Zachary, Hannah’s sister Chloe, and Grandma Pat went to the beauty shop. A very nice beautician named Karen brushed Hannah’s beautiful long red hair that grew way down past her shoulders.

Then Karen used little rubber bands to made lots of pigtails all over Hannah’s hair.

Next, she measured the pigtails and sure enough, they were exactly ten inches long! In order to make good wigs for children Wigs for Kids organization wanted the hair to be at least ten to twelve inches long.

As soon as all the pig tails were ready, Karen picked up her scissors and snip, snip, snip, she cut Hannah’s hair just below her ears.

“Wow! Look at that!” Hannah smiled into the mirror. “It’s short!”

Hannah’s mother picked up her little girl’s hair and said, “Oh goodness, all of Hannah’s beautiful red hair, right here in my hand.”

Karen washed Hannah’s hair in the big white beauty shop sink with special place for your head. She even gave Hannah’s head a nice massage.

When Grandma Pat took Hannah’s pictures she could see the space where her two front teeth were missing.

Then Karen started to style Hannah’s hair.

“See, Grandma, I think it’s going to turn out really cute,” Hannah said when Karen was blow-drying her hair.

Hannah liked having her hair fussed over.

After it was all dry and styled, the beautiful little birthday girl smiled a big smile.

Of course Hannah wanted her picture with her favorite hair stylist.

Then Hannah’s Mommy and her baby sister Chloe wanted their picture taken with Hannah. Everyone was so happy!

Hannah’s little brother, Zachary, said, “Hannah, you look really different. I like your haircut!” and he wanted his picture taken with his two sisters.

At home Hannah put on the new headband Grandma gave her and then she wanted her picture taken with her new American Girl doll, Felicity. Hannah said Felicity liked her haircut, too.

The next morning Grandma Pat walked Hannah up to her classroom for one last look at her beautiful granddaughter. Hannah gave Grandma a big hug. “Goodbye, Grandma. I’m glad you came to visit me for my birthday haircut.”

“Good bye Hannah! I love you!” Grandma said. “You are a beautiful little girl both inside and outside. You helped make another little girl very happy by giving your hair to Wigs for Kids so they can make a wig for a little girl who has no hair. I’m very proud of you, Hannah.”

Then Hannah went into her classroom where her teacher and all her friends said, “Hannah! You go your haircut! It looks very nice. It’s cute!

Hannah smiled. She felt nice outside and inside. The best part was feeling good inside because she knew another little girl with no hair would now get a brand new red-haired wig made from her hair. And that made Hannah very happy, indeed. The End

Introduction information for
PATRICIA LORENZ

Patricia Lorenz is an internationally-known inspirational, art-of-living writer and speaker.  She's the author of FIVE books, including her three newest: "GREAT AMERICAN OUTHOUSE STORIES   The Hole Truth and Nothing Butt"
(available at buybooksontheweb.com)

"LIFE'S TOO SHORT TO FOLD YOUR UNDERWEAR"
and "GRAB THE EXTINGUISHER, MY BIRTHDAY CAKE'S ON FIRE" (these two available at  guidepostsbooks.com)  (available April 1, 2004)

Patricia is one of the top contributors in the country to the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" books with stories in eighteen of them so far.  She's had over 400 articles published in numerous magazines and newspapers;  is a contributing writer for fifteen Daily Guideposts books and two dozen anthologies;  and is an award-winning newspaper columnist.

Patricia Lorenz has been a single parent since 1985.  She raised two daughters and two sons and has had kids in college every year for the past 17 years.  She lives in Oak Creek, Wisconsin and says she loves her empty nest and the freedom to follow her dreams while she's still awake.

For information about hiring Patricia Lorenz as a speaker for your company, club, church or organization, e-mail her at patricialorenz@juno.com