My Dear Friends and Family:

Over the past year a number of you have asked me what is it with the long hair? It has been insinuated on several occasions that I might be going through a mid-life crisis but I assure you that given my age it is highly unlikely such is the case – perhaps in another 10 years. The truth of the matter is that I have been trying my hardest to grow my hair to a length where it can be donated so that it may be used for a wig for perhaps a patient going through cancer treatment. You may ask what brought about this desire to grow and donate my hair – well life and the reality of it.

On August 21st, 2008, my wife and I were blessed with a lovely baby boy – Jake Rahul Khera. I still remember the day as if it was yesterday. It was a day filled with joy, fear, fun and most of all love. How much life would change for me that day I had no idea – almost all in a positive way except for when I am asked ‘but why dad’, ‘but why dad’, but why dad’…… In any case, after an amazing sailing vacation in Antigua with our little boy in April 2009 - what was scheduled to be a urinary tract infection turned into the worst nightmare of our life. The doctors at Fairfax hospital discovered a tumor on Jake’s right kidney. At first I was convinced that it was simply an infection, and till date I am not quite sure if it was denial on my part that pushed me to believe that or my strong belief that cancer only happens to adults due to certain habits etc. But as it turns out our 8-month old boy hit a lottery that no child should ever win. He was 1 of 500 kids in the entire US that would be diagnosed with Wilms Tumor.

The following weeks needless to say were full of fear, shock and uncertainity. Jake had his right kidney removed and was diagnosed with stage 1 Wilms Tumor. Although we had an option of no chemo given his stage 1 case, we decided to opt for chemo treatment for several reasons. The following six months he went through chemo treatment to give him the best shot at remission and cure. At a time when children are suppose to play, enjoy life, eat, poop, play and sleep, our little man like many others around the word was battling for his life. However, the medical staff at Fairfax and the Childrens National Medical Center were outstanding and helped us throughout this challenging time in our life.

Jake in a few weeks is about to celebrate his 3rd birthday with no obvious side affects or any residual affects of any kind. He has consistently been in the 80-90th percentile for height, weight and in the 50th for his head (Thank god for not a big head..:)). No one can tell that he ever went through this ordeal by looking at him, playing with him or hanging around talking with him. But the scar across his tiny little tummy and our memory as parents will never let us forget how lucky and fortunate we are to have him in our lives today. Unfortunately, not all parents have a happy ending story to tell and the battle for finding a cure or even a treatment for several pediatric cancers continues every day. Pediatric cancer remains the #1 cause of death for young children. The stories I have read and continue to read make me realize that we are a long ways away from winning this battle against cancer.

If you have made it to this part of my story then I think I have achieved more than 70% of my goal as my biggest desire is to raise awareness of pediatric cancer which can show up in any child, at anytime without notice and it does not care what cultural background you come from or what language you speak.

I will be shaving my head on August 22nd, 2011 a day after my boys 3rd birthday. I can only imagine the joy he will get from running the shaver once through my head. I am hopeful that my hair will serve as a wig for someone who needs it most and at the same time I am hoping to raise funds to support on-going research of pediatric cancer. Additionally, I am hopeful that some of the funds will be used to maintain and improve facilities for cancer patients here in the DC metro area. Your awareness of this situation means the most to me and everything else you do beyond that is simply an added bonus.

Please feel free to donate as much or as little as possible. No amount is too large or too small.

Thank you and see you all around with or without my hair. Also, I will put up pictures of my head shave once it has been completed.
Vinnie

Below are some quick facts of funding or lack thereof for pediatric cancer research: The funding for pediatric cancer clinical trials has gone down every year since 2003, and is currently around $27 million. By comparison, NCI funding for AIDS research is $300+ million; funding for breast cancer topped $600+ million.