In Bonn, Germany, a local barber shaved his head seven weeks ago after his ten-year-old niece, Judy, was diagnosed with a severe form of leukemia in the summer. Bashar Kahlo, who runs a barbershop in the Old Town district of Bonn, initiated the public head-shaving campaign alongside immediate family members to ease the psychological toll of upcoming chemotherapy treatments for the child.
Family Solidarity Precedes Chemotherapy
Before Judy began losing her hair to medical treatments, her immediate relatives chose to shave their heads in unison. Bashar Kahlo explained that the family wanted the young girl to feel less isolated when her hair fell out. In addition to the barber himself, Judy’s father, Bashar Kahlo’s wife, and his daughter all participated in the head-shaving effort to mitigate some of the emotional distress associated with the diagnosis.
Community Bone Marrow Donor Drives
Because a matching stem cell donor has not yet been identified, the family organized localized registration events through the German Bone Marrow Donor Database, known as the DKMS. Bashar Kahlo coordinated typization drives inside his downtown barbershop. Participants collect DNA samples by moving multiple cotton swabs inside the mouth for three minutes, entering the data registry to screen for potential matches with blood cancer patients.
Multi-Faith Outreach Across Bonn and Siegburg
The donor registration campaign expanded beyond the barbershop into various community spaces across Bonn and Siegburg. Drives took place inside Judy’s local judo club, a mosque, and a Christian church belonging to the Kurdish community of Bonn. Addressing the inclusive nature of the outreach, Bashar Kahlo noted that helpfulness transcends religious boundaries.
“I am a Muslim myself, but we are open to all religions, to all people who are helpful,” Bashar Kahlo said. “That has nothing to do with religion.”
Current Status of the Search
To date, more than 700 individuals have registered through the family-led drives facilitated by Bashar Kahlo. Prior to her illness, Judy attended school in Bonn-Beuel as an active, athletic child who was scheduled to transition to a Gymnasium secondary school at the start of the new academic year. The family continues to urge public participation in DKMS registries as the search for a compatible stem cell donor remains ongoing.
Worth a look
