Teen's head-shaving at St. Baldrick's event honors friend who died at 7

Meg Gabel and Emma Jordon met in Brussels, Belgium, when they were both 4, and quickly bonded over the fact that they spoke English. Both children of military families, the two became best friends and eventually returned to the United States about 10 years ago.

A short time later, Emma died of cancer. She was 7.

“For all the kids that loved Emma — her three brothers, and my whole family and all of her friends — it was obviously a life-changing and life-formative experience,” said Meg’s mother, Jeannine Gabel.

Meg Gabel, now 17, of Patchogue, decided to get involved with this year’s St. Baldrick’s Foundation event that took place Monday at Waverly Avenue Elementary School in Holtsville. She raised more than $5,000 and opted to have her head shaved to honor her late friend. The school collectively raised about $47,000 this year.

“A day doesn’t go by where I don’t think about her,” Gabel said.

The duo celebrated holidays together, along with each of their families, and participated in ballet classes and other activities.

“You know, when you’re stationed overseas together, you become family,” said Emma’s mother, Elena Jordon, who came to the head-shaving event from Fairfax, Virginia.

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Jordon said she was incredibly proud of Gabel for shaving her head and for her fundraising efforts.

When she caught her first glimpse of Gabel’s fresh cut, she became emotional. The family started a foundation in Emma’s honor to raise awareness of childhood cancer called Kidz Fighting Cancer, which raises awareness of and funds research for new treatments.

“We never [would] have done anything like this when we were 17,” Jeannine Gabel said of herself and Emma’s mother. “But we also never suffered a loss at 7 years old the way that Meg did. Emma was her first and best friend.”