Canterbury estate agent on how his father gifted him a hair transplant from beyond the grave

A young man has bravely explained how his father gave him a hair transplant from beyond the grave.

Blake Cornish, 26, a Canterbury estate agent and father of two, suffered a devastating blow in September 2010.

Within weeks of each other, both of his parents, Kim and Brian, were diagnosed with cancer – Kim with breast cancer and Brian with esophageal cancer.

While Kim eventually made a full recovery, Brian’s battle was tragically short-lived. She died in March 2012, just three days after Blake’s 14th birthday.

By this time, Blake’s siblings Leighton and Hailey had already left home and built their own lives, leaving Kim and Blake alone in the family home to deal with their loss.

“When I found out Dad was dying, it was devastating and I tried to stay strong for my friends and family,” Blake recalls.

“After he left, a few days after my 14th birthday, I felt like the ground had been ripped out from under me. But instead of letting the grief consume me, I knew I had to step up—not just for myself, but for my mom.

“We had very little money and I had to do part-time jobs as a teenager while trying to keep up with school. Doing that was hard enough, but doing it after losing my dad – it was like trying to run a marathon with a boulder strapped to my back.

“I fought to continue in school, but I couldn’t give up. I had to prove to myself, and to my dad’s memory, that I could go on. Life went on, however sad that might be. But I think about him every day and miss him terribly.”

Without any significant life insurance payout to soften the blow, Kim found herself struggling not only with her recovery but also with the challenges of raising a teenage son on her own.

Despite deep grief, Blake refused to let the loss of his father derail his life.

He took on several part-time jobs to help with household expenses and ensure he could provide for himself.

Blake eventually left school with few qualifications. He secured a job at estate agency Miles & Barr in Canterbury and began to thrive – except for one nagging issue.

His hairline was receding and Blake ignored it. In a futile attempt to hide it, he adopted a comb that, ironically, only drew attention to his thinning hair.

Although Kim, Leighton and his girlfriend Penny tried to broach the subject, Blake’s sensitivity led to heated arguments.

In October 2022, Blake and Penny welcomed their son, Parker, into the world. It was a happy occasion but also a turning point. Seeing pictures of him holding Parker, Blake is saddened by the image of his receding hairline.

The anxiety simmering beneath the surface now became impossible to ignore.

“I’ve been self-conscious about my hair since I was 21,” explains Blake, who lives in the Canterbury area.

“I started wearing a lot of hats when I go out and grew my hair with a comb to hide the thinning at the corners.

“When I saw these pictures of my son Parker, I realized that the image in the mirror was more than just how I looked – it was a reflection of everything I had been through.

“And I couldn’t let go of that story I told my son.”

Kim could see how deeply this issue was affecting Blake and she knew she had to do something. When Brian died, he left Kim a small amount of money to use only if absolutely necessary.

For 12 years, Kim had kept that promise. But now, seeing Blake’s anguish over something that seemed trivial to her but clearly tormented him, she decided that Brian wouldn’t want to see his son suffer like that.

After reading an article in a local newspaper about a resident who had undergone a successful hair transplant in London, Kim began researching options.

When she finally brought it up with Blake, he was more receptive than ever. Together, they visited The Wimpole Clinic in London for a consultation.

“I felt very grateful when my mom told me about the gift from my dad,” says Blake.

“It wasn’t something he would have known I was aware of when he died, but I feel like he would hate to see me hide who I am.”

Blake’s journey wasn’t just about restoring his hairline—it was about regaining his confidence.

“I wanted to have the procedure to stop worrying and feel like myself again,” adds Blake.

“Now, I feel very confident and back to normal. My hair is still in the shedding stage and I’m excited to see the final results, but I haven’t worn a hat since the process and I’ve been going out regularly so life has really taken a turn for the better.

“I wish more people knew how easy the process is and that it’s not scary at all when you’re there or after the transplant. The transplant was not for vanity. It was to take back a part of me that I felt was slipping away.

“After everything life has thrown at me, it was about getting back on my feet, not just for me, but for my family.”

Dr Peter Barron, hair transplant surgeon at Wimpole Clinic, says hair loss can seriously affect a person’s mental health.

“At Wimpole Clinic, we see first-hand how hair loss can have a profound emotional impact on individuals,” she explains.

“For many men, hair loss is much more than just a cosmetic issue. The gradual thinning and receding of hair can cause personal, psychological and social challenges.

“It’s not just hair loss. it’s about losing a part of one’s identity, which can be particularly painful.”

Dr Barron says that in Blake’s treatment they used follicular extraction, “the most advanced hair transplant surgery”.

“The entire process is completed in less than a day, allowing them to return to their normal lives quickly, with the added confidence that their results will be indistinguishable from their natural hair,” he added.