Bald is beautiful for Thon child

Repeating the message printed on her T-shirt, 5-year-old Rebecca Allen says with a giggle, "I'm not just cute, I'm gorgeous!"

That tiny shirt has more than just a message reflecting Rebecca's striking smile; it indicates her captivating confidence and staggering strength.

Becca is an Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon child who is undergoing treatment for Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL).

Tina Allen, Becca's mother, said her daughter lost her hair about three weeks after treatment for the disease began, in April 2005.

"[Losing her hair] didn't bother her in the least," Allen said. "She could care less."

In fact, after losing her hair, Becca grew an affinity for others without hair. Terry Allen, Becca's dad, remembers how Becca loved to watch wrestling, and how Kane became one of Becca's favorites because he had a shaved head.

But what did test Becca's strength the most was people thinking she was a little boy with a shaved head. Still, Becca refused to wear a hat.

Even now, with her hair completely grown in, "anybody who's bald, she loves," Tina said.

Though Becca's hair has returned, she is still dealing with leg and joint pain from her medicine. But, "through it all, I don't think she's ever complained about anything," Tina said.

Becca will complete her treatment in June.

Becca was 4 years old when a pediatrician realized that what seemed to be cold symptoms and ear infections were something more.

At that time, Becca had recently had tubes put in her ears. After the procedure, her ears would bleed. Becca's pediatrician told the family to take Becca to Hershey Medical Center immediately, Tina said.

From then on, the hospital would be a familiar setting for the family. Amanda Allen, Becca's younger sister, was born only a week before Becca's diagnosis.

"The baby pretty much grew up [in the hospital]," Tina said.

Since Tina was still on maternity leave from work, she had extra time to stay at the hospital with Becca during the first two weeks of treatment. Terry and Tina would take shifts so they could take care of their older daughters, making sure Elizabeth, 12, and Stephanie, 7, got on and off the school bus.

Now Becca only has to go for treatment once a month.

"[She is doing] so, so much better," Tina said.

When the family arrived at the hospital feeling devastated, they learned about the Four Diamonds Fund. Helping to ease any monetary concerns, Four Diamonds helped pay electric bills and gave the family gas and meal vouchers.

"I don't think we've ever seen a bill," Tina said.

The family attended its first Thon last year, which Terry describes as "unexpected."

"It was amazing, like, 'Wow,' " he said.

Tina remembers Rec Hall being filled with "thousands of babysitters."

Last year the family gave something special to its Adopt-A-Family Organization, the Lion Ambassador dancers. The family bought bags with a picture slot on the outside and put Becca's picture inside the slot. Then they filled the bags with things like silly string and squirt guns.

The girls loved playing with the silly string, but for the dancers, "the pictures were the inspiration," Tina said.

Becca can't wait to see the Nittany Lion and her college friends again, and Elizabeth defines Thon as "a place to have fun with your family."

Thinking for a few minutes, Elizabeth nods toward Stephanie, who's running around the room, and says in a most matter-of-fact manner, "It was a great way to release everybody's energy."

The sisters and parents alike are excited for their second Thon that awaits them this year in the Bryce Jordan Center, now just two weeks away.

For now, though, in caring for Becca's leukemia, the Allens try to keep life as simple as possible.

"We didn't really change anything in our day-to-day life [when Becca was diagnosed]. We kept our daily routine," Tina said. "I think that's what's helped the most. You get up and act as everything was normal even though it isn't."