Article posted: 12/15/2012 8:00 AM

Cary girl gets haircut, sheds stigma at the same time

Cary girl donates hair to help shed stigma of her disease

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Kelly Whistler grins as she watches daughter Kayli get her hair cut by stylist Gina Coleman Friday at Blush Salon in Crystal Lake. Kayli, who has Trisomy 18, is donating her hair to Wigs for Kids.

Christopher Hankins | Staff Photographer

Before getting her first haircut Friday, Kayli Whistler, who has a genetic disorder called Trisomy 18, has her nails painted at Blush Salon and Spa in Crystal Lake.

Christopher Hankins | Staff Photographer

After Kayli Whistler's first haircut at age 3, she gets a big kiss Friday from her mother, Kelly, at Blush Salon in Crystal Lake. Twelve inches of Kayli's hair will be given to Wigs for Kids in Westlake, Ohio.

Photos by Christopher Hankins/chankins@dailyherald

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Kelly Whistler holds daughter Kayli's face as stylist Gina Coleman shows off the 12-inch section she cut from Kayli's hair. Kayli, 3, has a 10 percent chance of living and doctors said that upon her death, she couldn't donate any organs. Kelly is donating Kayli's hair to Wigs for Kids in Ohio. Coleman works for Blush Salon in Crystal Lake, where the event took place Friday afternoon.

Christopher Hankins | Staff Photographer

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By donating some of her hair to a good cause Friday, Kayli Whistler was also hoping to shed a certain label that has followed her throughout her young life. Kayli, 3, of Cary, has Trisomy 18, a chromosome disorder that resulted in a division error in chromosome 18. "We were told ... her life is worthless and her organs are worthless, so by doing this I want everyone to see her as a hero and a warrior, not as Trisomy 18 and not as worthless," her mom, Kelly Whistler, said.