“Do You Wanna Shave My Head?”: How a Mother and Daughter Bonded Over a Cancer Milestone

Erica Stolper was seven years old when she found out her mother, Melissa Berry, had cancer. Melissa was then 42 and had been diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. For many parents, breaking the news to their children and helping them cope is enormously difficult. For Melissa and Erica, it turned out to be a bonding experience. It happened unexpectedly during an early morning encounter in the bathroom when Melissa made the decision to shave her head. For Erica, who was obsessed with becoming a hairdresser, it was a dream come true and she happily helped her mother buzz her scalp. “It was the first big step that she really took in her whole journey,” says Erica, who looks back now on that time as a special moment. “It was cool to be a part of it with her,” she says.