Army Veteran Grows Hair for Wife's Cancer Wig

David Blankenbaker donated over a foot of hair to create a custom wig for his wife Erin as she battles cervical cancer.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 8:14am

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a wig repeated in a tight grid pattern, conceptually representing the personal and emotional journey of cancer treatment and recovery.A selfless act of love and sacrifice, as an Army veteran grows his hair for years to create a custom wig for his wife battling cancer.Manchester Today

David Blankenbaker, a 41-year-old Army veteran from New Hampshire, has been growing out his hair for years to donate to his mother and now his wife Erin, who is battling cervical cancer. After Erin lost her hair due to the effects of her illness, David decided to get his long locks cut and transformed into a custom wig for her.

Why it matters

This heartwarming story highlights the lengths a devoted spouse will go to support their partner during a difficult health battle. David's selfless act of growing out his hair and donating it to create a wig for Erin demonstrates the power of love and sacrifice, especially in the face of a cancer diagnosis.

The details

David first started growing out his hair in 2010 to donate to his mother Pamela, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and lost her hair. After Pamela passed away last year, David continued growing his hair with the intention of donating it to his wife Erin when she was diagnosed with cervical cancer just a month later. When Erin began losing her hair due to the effects of her treatment, David decided the time was right to get his over 12 inches of hair cut and transformed into a custom wig for Erin by the owner of AJ's Wigs and Hair.

  • David began growing his hair out in 2010 after his mother Pamela was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
  • Pamela Blankenbaker passed away the day after Mother's Day in 2025.
  • Erin Blankenbaker was diagnosed with cervical cancer just one month after Pamela's passing in 2025.
  • David recently had his long hair cut and donated to create a custom wig for Erin in April 2026, before Erin's upcoming surgery.

The players

David Blankenbaker

A 41-year-old Army veteran from New Hampshire who grew out his hair for over 15 years to donate and create a custom wig for his wife Erin as she battles cervical cancer.

Erin Blankenbaker

David's wife of 8 years who was diagnosed with cervical cancer, leading her husband to donate his long hair to create a wig for her.

Pamela Blankenbaker

David's mother who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2010, prompting David to first start growing out his hair to donate to her.

AJ's Wigs and Hair

The wig shop that volunteered to transform David's donated hair into a custom wig for his wife Erin.

Varnished Gentlemen's Salon and Shave Parlor

The salon where David had his long hair cut and prepared for donation.

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What they’re saying

“I have never had long hair in my life because I was in the military. The hardest thing was learning how to deal with it… I had to learn the washing and conditioning and the worst thing – rolling over on it in the middle of the night and choking yourself.”

— David Blankenbaker, Army Veteran

“When you hear those words, you always think the worst possible thing.”

— Erin Blankenbaker

“She always commented she likes the color of my hair and has always loved it, so I just felt like it would be something that puts us closer together. If it was a liver or my kidney, I would be doing the same thing.”

— David Blankenbaker, Army Veteran

“Every little bit helps, and he's more than a little bit. To see what it turns into, to see it come to fruition, it's going to be cool, and it means a lot. It does. It makes it even more special because it's him.”

— Erin Blankenbaker

What’s next

Erin Blankenbaker is scheduled to undergo surgery at the end of April to remove a tumor, and will also need a full hysterectomy as part of her cancer treatment. David Blankenbaker says he plans to eventually grow his hair out again to donate to someone else in need.

The takeaway

This heartwarming story demonstrates the power of love and sacrifice, as a devoted husband goes to extraordinary lengths to support his wife during her cancer battle. David's selfless act of growing out his hair for over 15 years to create a custom wig for Erin is a touching reminder of the profound impact one person can have on the life of another.