Santa Paula Times
Home
Menu

Above left, Daniella Sandoval, age 6, looks at a photo of Dustin Meraz, who died of Neuroblastoma Cancer at age 11. Daniella donated her hair to “Locks of Love” in memory of Dustin. Tisa Grant gets ready to cover Danielle in preparation for her haircut. Inset, Danielle is ready. Center, Tisa placed Danielle’s hair in two pony tails and begins cutting the first piece. Above right, Tisa hands Danielle two pieces of her hair after they were cut. Photos by Don Johnson

Daniella Maria Sandoval helps “Locks of Love”

February 01, 2006
In Memory of Dustin Meraz
Santa Paula News
Daniella Maria Sandoval, age 6, got a very special haircut January 26 from Tisa Grant at Tisa’s High Performance salon. Daniella, the daughter of Phillip and Stephanie Sandoval and a student at Bedell Elementary School, donated her hair to “Locks of Love” in memory of her cousin, Dustin Meraz, who died at age 11 of neuroblastoma, a deadly form of cancer that attacks the bones in the body. Dustin Joseph Meraz was the youngest child of Trisha and Dave Meraz. An active 10-year-old, he was in the GATE program for gifted children, played baseball, was involved in 4-H, loved to sing, and dreamed of becoming an actor. He was diagnosed on March 29, 2002, and received aggressive treatment for the cancer, including chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant. He died March 5, 2003, less than a year after being diagnosed.Locks of Love is a nonprofit organization that uses donated hair to create the highest quality hair prosthetics for financially disadvantaged children under age 18 suffering from long-term medical hair loss (including cancer-related treatments). The prostheses help to restore the children’s’ self-esteem and their confidence, enabling them to face the world and their peers.Locks of Love accepts 10-inch minimum length (tip to tip) of clean, dry hair, bundled into a ponytail or braid. For more information, visit their web site at http://www.locksoflove.org.