A Deliberate Act Of Kindness

By Curtis D. Tucker, Enid Buzz | March 26, 2015 | Updated: March 20, 2016
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ENID, Okla. - It was a year ago that one Enid resident decided to take the idea of a random act of kindness beyond buying someone a cup of coffee in the drive thru. She sacrificed something for a complete stranger.
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Amanda Martin works as a hairstylists and knows everything there is to know about hair, including how long it takes to grow. Martin allowed her hair to grow so long that it had reached her lower back.
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Martin decided that Valentine's Day would be the perfect day to cut off 17 inches of her hair. She wasn't just doing it to have a new hairstyle, she was on a mission. After watching family and friends deal with cancer and the effects of chemotherapy, Martin decided that donating her hair to Wig For Kids would be a way of giving back.
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For over 30 years, Wigs for Kids has been providing Hair Replacement Systems and support for children who have lost their hair due to chemotherapy, radiation therapy, Alopecia, Trichotillomania, burns and other medical issues at no cost to children or their families.
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The effects of hair loss go deeper than just a change in a child’s outward appearance. Hair loss can erode a child’s self-confidence and limit them from experiencing life the way children should. With an injured self-image, a child’s attitude toward treatment and their physical response to it can be negatively affected also. Wigs for Kids helps children suffering from hair loss look themselves and live their lives.
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Wigs for Kids never charges families for hair replacements, so they depend on generous people like Martin that want to help donate hair for cancer and other sources of hair loss. 12,400 children ages birth to 19 are diagnosed with cancer each year.
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To make the day even more special, Martin contacted Madelyn McReynolds to help cut her 17 inches of hair. McReynolds is an 8 year old from Lamont that was diagnosed with leukemia. She's undergone 2.5 years of treatment and has experienced hair loss herself.
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McReynolds was very bubbly and had such a great smile for someone that has gone through so much. Maggie, as she is nicknamed, only has to go to the OU clinic once a month to get spinal's and the rest of her treatment is pills. She is in the maintenance phase of her treatment so her hair is starting to grow back which she is really excited about! You can follow her at Madelyn's Journey on Facebook.
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We all met at Affinity Fitness and Beauty Spa on Valentines to witness this act of kindness. Hairstylist Lindsey Brown made sure everything was ready to go and McReynolds had the honor of cutting the ponytail. The hair will be sent to Wigs For Kids and used to help a child waiting on a hair replacement. We will update if we find out which child received the hair.
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UPDATE 03/21/2016: Here's a current photo of Madelyn (Maggie) posing with her painting at the Art With A Heart fundraiser. Her hair has grown back!
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2015 video and photos below.
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