Sheppard girl donates hair for second time

  • Published
  • By John Ingle
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) --  A 7-year-old girl sat in a salon chair at the beauty shop here March 29 waiting for the snip, snip of the beautician's scissors.

With her hair separated into three distinct rows, similar to those before braiding, Adriana Breuer felt the gentle tug of the silver cutting utensils as the first of three 11-inch strips of hair was removed. The hair was destined for Locks of Love, an organization that turns it into wigs at no charge for financially disadvantaged patients who suffer from long-term hair loss.

For Adriana, her donation was simply to help her cousin Jarrett, a recent cancer success story.

"I thought it was cool," she said of having her hair cut to help others.

Adriana's mother, Master Sgt. Lisa Breuer of the 82nd Training Wing's faculty development office, said she and her husband, Master Sgt. Rodney Breuer, the aircrew life support superintendent at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., are not surprised by their daughter's willingness to give of herself to help another.

"She's got a really good heart," her mother said. "She's a kind and thoughtful girl."

The 2nd-grader said she knows all about the importance of Locks of Love. She donated her first 10-inch strand of hair at 3 years old, when her cousin was first diagnosed with his form of cancer.

Adriana, with the help of her mother, decided to donate hair to the organization so that Jarrett could have a hairpiece to wear after treatments resulted in the loss of his hair.

"Some people donate time, and some people donate money," Sergeant Breuer said. "She donates her hair."

Adriana said she doesn't mind having short hair. The evidence is in the clippings. She walked into the salon with long brunette hair that almost touched her waist. She left with hair that barely touched her shoulders.

"For boys, it's not a real big deal to lose their hair," Sergeant Breuer said. "But for girls, they tend to lose their sense of self."

Although Adriana has not reached the age where her hairstyle is a big issue, Sergeant Breuer said at some point it will be.

For now, the elementary school student said she plans to continue her quest to help out those who need hairpieces.