I never met Eden. She was nine when she died last February of neuroblastoma, a form of pediatric cancer.
As my friend Lynn sat in a chair at Studio 17 Salon in Tustin, she told me about this little girl filled with life, boundless energy, and a love for Ben & Jerry’s. As she remembered the smile of the little girl she knew since she was a baby–she starts to cry, then I start to cry.
There we were, trying to collect ourselves–Lynn, hair layered and piled-high with tinfoil like some kind of elegant alien, and me, digging for a tissue in my purse as my four-year-old begs me to take him to Marshall’s for a toy. Then Lynn smiled her big smile to help us pull it together, and said, “Every child deserves a chance. She deserved a chance.” Then we’re off again with the crying.
Lynn is dyeing her hair with streaks of orange in honor of “HallowEden,” a fundraiser that will raise research money for neuroblastoma. “Halloween was Eden’s favorite holiday and orange was her favorite color,” Lynn explains.
She says when she heard some of the volunteers, including Eden’s dad, were dyeing their hair orange for the event, she thought, “I can do that.”
Lynn is hoping people will ask her why the heck her hair is orange and she can tell them all about Eden and “HallowEden.” So far, “HallowEden” volunteers have raised over $20,000 for The MagicWater Project, an organization dedicated to fighting neuroblastoma, and they hope to raise more on Sunday at the event. It’s a going to be like a big Halloween party at Studio 17 Salon–crafts, face painting, balloons, tattoos–you know, all the stuff your kids love.
“It was so hard that last couple of months,” says Lynn remembering last winter. “I just wanted to be able to do something for them [Eden's parents], anything.”
Then she stops, looks at herself in the mirror, still all foiled-up, and laughs, “Do I look silly?’
No she didn’t, she looked like the most beautiful person in the world to me.
The lowdown on HallowEden:
The MagicWater Project’s “HallowEden” Benefit for Eden Brunskow will be held on Sunday, Oct. 26th, 11 am to 4 pm at Studio 17 Salon, 17331 17th Street in Tustin, (in the Marshall’s shopping center) 714-734-1313.
The MagicWater Project’s website click here.
Lynn’s fundraising website click here.
For more Information on Neuroblastoma click here.
Would you like to be featured here and on 
Orange is fun!!! Now I know why it is Eden’s favoirte color!! We shouLD all dye our hair ORANGE!!!! Thank you Suzanne for Honoring Eden!!
Lynn,
You are amazing….. I can’t wait to see your red hair… What a great cause. I hope you raise all the money you need and tons more…
Blessings!!!!!
Lynn is a friend of mine and I knew of the Brunskows from Moms club. I remember getting the email about little Eden. I believe she was 7 at the time. My heart broke for what she and the parents have had to endure. My daughter is now 7 and I cannot imagine her going through what Eden did. Not enough people know or understand this disease and more people should. Lynn you are such a great friend and I know that Eden must be smiling at you!
Lynn is a friend of mine and I knew of the Brunskows from Moms club. I remember getting the email about little Eden. I believe she was 7 at the time. My heart broke for what she and the parents have had to endure. My daughter is now 7 and I cannot imagine her going through what Eden did. Not enough people know or understand this disease and more people should. Lynn you are such a great friend and I know that Eden must be smiling at you!
Leave a Reply
I am so in awe of everyone who is dying their hair. It is so inspiring. I will definitely be down on Sunday to show my daughter what you are doing. The fundraiser is so perfect for Eden.
Thanks for writing this story.
Thank you for sharing such a touching story. Reminds us all what a precious gift we are to each other.
This is great opportunity to make difference in the world and teach your children about compassion and that every individual can make a difference.
Way to go, Lynn! You look great!
Everyone who knew Eden loved her. We miss her so much. She is up in heaven spooking angels. Way to go Lynn. I am so proud of you and can’t wait to see the orange hair
I have known Lynn for a long time. We went to school together for many years and became very close friends during our high school years. One think I know for sure about Lynn is if she believes in something whole heartedly, It is important. You are doing a wonderful thing Lynn. I wish I was closer to participate this weekend. I am in Northern California. You honoring Eden and her wonderful views in life is something we can all learn from. Enjoy what we have, cherish those around you and help others every chance you can. Good luck Lynn. I will keep you, Eden and your families in my prayers!
What a special person you are Lynn. I hope you exceed your fund raising goal!
What a special little girl Eden was and what an incredible way to honor her. I remember, pretty early into her fight , she met another cancer warrior who had dyed her hair a wild color. Eden thought this was awesome and pestered her mom to let her dye hair when it grew back after her chemo.
Can’t wait to see everyone’s ORANGE hair on Sunday!
Eden was a classmate of my daughter Zela, they played together at school and at each others home. It was hard to explain the disease but this has made a difference for Zela and other classmates to participate and be apart of Eden’s world. Sunday will be a day of tribute to Eden and other children battling this disease. I met Matilda and her twin sister Isabella on Thursday of last week while I started the process of turning their Dad Brian ORANGE. Matilda is at a great stage. Stop by on Sunday, experience the Orange thing yourselves. It’s an incredible feeling to know you are contributing to finding a cure to help manage this dreadful disease.
Lynn way to go!! “Sweet”… “Totally”…”You so totally rock dude!”… thanks for doing this for our Angel Eden! look forward to seeing you Sunday. I have wondered why she loved Nemo so much..was it because he had that wonderful color of orange???
Orange is beautiful!! I’m hoping to get by on Sunday for a look at the fun and maybe a haircut. Eden was special to everyone she touched. You could not hear her voice or see her smile without getting a huge lift. We all miss her and her fun antics. Love to her mommy and daddy this HallowEden!!
You do look beautiful, Lynn. I’m sure the other orange-haired supporters will look lovely too. Can’t wait to see you all. This is a wonderful way to celebrate Eden’s life, her love for Halloween, and raise funds to help other children. You rock!
Thanks Suzanne for writing this and thanks Lynn for doing such wonderful work. You are truly a beautiful person, inside and out
I met Eden and her family when my daughter was in the hospital also fighting cancer. I remember Eden loved halloween and reptiles. What a great thing to do.
I really want this to be a huge success. I hope the Register will publish this immediately! Please,j please, if everyone gave just one dollar - a cure could be well on it’s way so no other parents need to lose their child!
What a wonderful way to remember someone so special. And what a fantastic person Lynn is for making a difference. My favorite color has always been orange, now it takes on a whole new meaning!
Hi Suzanne,
Great column. I, too am familar with Eden - Lynn shared her precious life with me one day during one of our long walks in the morning.
I enjoy your blog too Suzanne (I think I’ve told you that before, ha, ha).
Keep up the great work!!!
-Lynn
What a great cause . What a great friend too , its so good for people to do good deeds for others. Life can be so tough at times.
Thank you Suzanne and Orange Co. Register for giving this fund raising event some press and helping to acquaint the public with Neuroblastoma Pediatric Cancer and the desperate need for research and treatment funds. Everyone that knew Eden speaks of what a brave fighter she was. Sadly she lost her fight but her parents Paul and Nina are pursuing this fight to save other children stricken with this horrible cancer.
We are donating an afternoon sail on our 55′ sailboat in Long Beach harbor. If you are the winner you may bring 5 guests (total of 6 people). This is a $600. value and will be raffeled off for anyone making a $20. donation or more at the fund raiser Sunday Oct. 26th at Studio 17 Salon. Thank you again Orange Co. Register for your help in honoring Eden and all the children stricken with this Monster disease.
Hi Suzanne!
I like Lynn was am a friend of Eden and her parents. I, like Lynn am sporting a new ‘do. My sponsors voted for Annie Lennox out of three possible choices, so I am red hot and spiked!
What I’ve learned from this experience is *HUGE*. We started out with a few volunteers and a couple of hundred in donations. It has passed 25 thousand now.
Remember when breast and colon cancer were deadly? Now, these diagnoses are no longer a death sentance due to huge awareness and funding, just because people care.
It is unbelievable to me that this cancer continues to be deadly in part because funding is not available for the required research and medicine trials. Why? Because it’s not profitable. No child should die because finding the cure is not profitable.
Eden’s dad has made it his mission to make this deadly childhood cancer into a disease that is totally manageable with medication, and I know he will reach his goal in our lifetime.
Thanks for the exposure. Awareness and education are everything!
Take care, Kelly von Hemert
I love it and you were right. She looks beautiful. Orange is a lovely color. That was a nice story and I am glad to have just read it. I live in Massachusetts and its a long story but I just recently became aware of Eden and her family and what in my mind will now probably always going forward be known as HallowEden.
I hope the print edition gets a story about HallowEden too. It would be a wonderful and good thing for them to tell everyone in Orange County about. Good news about good people doing good things is something we can all use a lot more of.
Way to go ladies! You look marvelous!
What a wonderful tribute to Eden. I would like to commend everyone who is participating in honoring her during her favorite holiday. Makes my heart happy!!!
Lynn, you are special!!! As your mother, I can attest to how special you are. I’m proud of you and all your efforts to assist in such an important cause, saving the lives of our children and grandchildren. Wish I lived closer to the salon so that I could dye my hair orange.
Great story, Suzanne. Amazing gesture, Lynn.