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Twelve year old Brittany Franzen’s greatest concern was starting seventh grade. Now her greatest concern is whether or not she will live to ever see any of her classmates again.

Life changed drastically when Brittany’s right breast suddenly became swollen. Her health deteriorated rapidly from there, and on Monday, July 20, 2009, young Brittany was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Her liver and spleen are both enlarged; she has tumors in both breasts, her right lung, collar bone, and leg. Brittany is being fitted with a chemotherapy port and will likely be at Children’s Hospital in Jackson for an extended amount of time.

Brittany’s family lost their home to Hurricane Katrina and lived in a FEMA camper for 18 months before being moved into a FEMA mobile home due to her mother’s cerebral palsy disability. Both the FEMA camper and mobile home tested positive for dangerously high formaldehyde levels. After Brittany’s family lived in the mobile home for over two years, FEMA finally had it tested and discovered the chemical levels were more than two and a half times the maximum allowed. One of the causes of leukemia is exposure to chemicals such as formaldehyde.

Brittany has lost her hair.

I am just 11, but i have grown my hair out to donate it, I am donating it today @ 4:30pm i am excited to get my long hair cut, it goes down to the middle if my back!! about time too get it cut. my brother an d his friends are always commenting on how long my hair is and that i should cut it, my parents friend are always saying that i have such beautiful hair, i wanted to let a kid with Cancer be commented on their hair.

JoAn - I live down the street from your office in Long Beach, MS. I plan to take part in the Walk of Hope in Pass Christian on November 7. In June 2007 during a routine doctor's appointment, the nurse practitioner discovered a large mass in my neck. After ultrasounds, biopsies, etc. I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Quite a shock to someone with a 3 year old and a 4 month old at home. The same week I was diagnosed, my best friend was diagnosed with breast cancer. Here we were 31 and faced with life's biggest battle. I am happy to report that we are both 2 years cancer free!

I had heard about donating hair for wigs for your "cancer warriors", and until I looked in the mirror and realized just what a rich, long, luscious shaggy mane I had did it come to me. Then I told myself, "hey, girlfriend, you wanna REALLY do something cool for your birthday?" So, on my 61st, here in NYC, husband Ric and I walked over to my hairstylist Albert and told him what we were going to do. He was delighted to take part, and soon the shop was buzzing: his other stylist Julio, and the manicure lady were happily snapping on the elastics. In about a half hour I had a fluffy head full of long ponytails. I laughed when I thought of the Flintstones - remember Pebbles and Bam-Bam? Like many on the Pink Heart Network, I have lost dear ones to The Big C: my wonderful friend Barry from Multiple Myeloma, my beloved Aunt Josephine to breast cancer, next door neighbor Claudia to a lung tumor. I am now short cropped, and very very proud to be that way! I take every opportunity to tell the Pink Heart story, and urge my neighbors with long hair to "Clip it, Bless it, and Mail it." By the way, I really had a terrific birthday this year. Giving back. Isn't that what it's really all about?

I lost one of my 3 younger sisters to breast cancer when she was 50 years old, after a 10 years fight. Shortly after, my youngest sister was diagnosed in her early 40s. She is doing well at this point. Both sisters had lymph involvement, and agressive cancers that evaded their routine mammograms. My mother also has had breast cancer, which was caught in the early stages. Having observed first hand what this disease and it's treatment do to a person physically and emotionally, I felt that I wanted to do something to ease that pain for someone who did not have the resources my own family was fortunate enough to have. I have just sent in my hair after growing it with the intention of donating it. I hope for someone, somewhere, it will make the trauma of this disease more bearable.

I had Prostrate Cancer in 1994,was operated on 3/18/1994.Long Operation ,an then every thing was fine until 04/12/2000, an they found some more Cancer an had to have 38 rands of radition,thats 4to6 shots 5days aweek. an now they say my PSA is Climbing again an In just let my hair grow to donate to some one to help out with making some one a wig. God Bless Richard

I lost my mom to colon cancer when I was 8 years old. The treatment they had back then was to make them comfortable. She was gone in 6 months after being diagnosed. Cancer seems to run in our family, but not breast cancer. I donated 15" to Locks of Love about 5 yrs ago. Now I am 51 and was diagnosed with a rare arm cancer, not life threatening (needed radiation, chemo wouldn't work), but possible reoccurance with possibility of losing my arm. I decided years before that I wanted to donate my hair again. So 4 years later here is another 10" I chose your site because you give the wigs free. Stay positive and give the cancer to the Lord, for he is always with you and will carry you through everything. I suffer from fibromyalgia and God took away that pain so I could deal with the pain of the radiation. Please don't give up. Thank you!

My 7yr old grandson, Billy, saw a program on the Today show about donating hair. He was 4 yrs old at that time. He decided on his own to grow his hair and to donate it. He went through kindergarten and most of 1st grade with a beautiful blonde flowing mane. When he ran in the sunshine with the golden mass flying, he looked like a young lion!He underwent a ton of teasing, this boy with long hair. People would call him a girl, even though they knew he was a boy. He would say with pride, I AM a boy and my hair is for cancer kids with no hair! When he decided he was done with growing it out, we went to a hair place. We told the lady how to cut it. To bad she didn't listen and whacked it off so the pony was only 8"! I am so glad this site accepts the ponies at 6"! I figured if this wonderful boy could do the donation, I would grow my hair out and donate it too! My sister in law was just dx'd with an aggressive form of breast cancer, and was given a beautiful wig free! Thank you for this site and your wonderful commitments! The ponies will be in the mail soon! In the spirit of lion manes, Sijai

i.ve went thru colon,liver, and bowels cancer with my husband the lord will bring you threw anything if you believe and stay strong, no matter what the situation god is in control of our lives, he want put no more on you thaionn you can bare. Cancer is a patient situation, with love and tender "CARE".... Pink Heart is a blessing to all that needs, i will send hair to help someone in need soon. My husband fought fire's for 23 years saving lives for everybody else, but battling for his own life was nearly easy, as it was saving someone's else.....Be strong and pray for someone else today, tommorrow maybe to late.....

I lost my mom to cancer when I was 14 years old. I am now 28. Yes, in some respects it has gotten easier. But in life as I grow older there are many moments I wish my mom was here to go through with me. I feel a sense of community coming to this website and to share in the pain of cancer. I consider it a great honor and blessing to have been able to donate my hair so that someone may enjoy the sweet gift of joy by something so many of us take for granted. My heart goes out to all who have fought life through cancer.