Sunday, May 2, 2010

{HAIR} Who Needs It? ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING!

There once was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror,
and noticed she had only three hairs on her head. “Well,” she said.
“I think I’ll braid my hair today.” So she did and she had a wonderful day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror, and saw that she
had only two hairs on her head.“Hmm,” she said.
“I think I’ll part my hair down the middle today.” So she did and had a grand day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror, and noticed that
she had only one hair on her head.“Well she said.
“Today I’m going to wear my hair in a ponytail.” So she did and she had a fun, fun day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror, and noticed that there wasn’t a single hair on her head. “Yeah!” she exclaimed. “I don’t have to fix my hair today!”

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING
Sent by my Mom's sister {Aunt Gloria} at a most needed time
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

{posted by Ginny}

Last Tuesday marked two weeks after Mom's first treatment. Mom and I said to each other that day, that maybe should wouldn’t lose her hair because it seemed like it would have started to happen before now. Well…we both spoke too soon because that night she called me down stairs to her room in our home and sitting there, on the arm of the chair, was a little clump of hair. We both just looked at it…kind of shocked I think. Tears gathered in our eyes and then we commented how it looked like a little birds nest. We have talked about this openly several times in our family but I guess nothing really prepares you for it. I was so proud of mom. She was so brave but I knew inside she was thinking “Oh my...it’s really happening.”

But no matter how hard you prepare you just don’t know how you will feel until it starts to happen. Mom’s hair continued to fall out the rest of the week--but we had a plan. You see there is some sort of satisfaction you have when you choose to take control of something that is completely out of your control. So, on Saturday morning Mom chose to shave her head. Our friend Megan (a family friend and fantastic hair stylist) came to my home to help out. We set up a regular beauty parlor in the bathroom and threw a gown around mom. We stood there discussing what size buzzer to use and then the conversation switched to how we should go about doing the cut. You would think just taking it all off would be the goal but, oh no, the grandkids got involved and before you knew it we had styled (or buzzed if you prefer) moms hair into a “poodle-doo”, a “rockin mohawk” and finally a typical “summer buzz”. We laughed and took pictures along the way. The grandkids were just dying that Grammie was going for this. Will yelled out at one point, “Grammie you look like a rock-star” and started to play his air guitar. Mom loved it. It was a great relief in the end to realize that she has a very cute shaped head. It actually ended up being a fun memory rather than such a sad one and I’m so glad that she wanted it to be this way.

After we cleaned up the mess, we headed out to a local wig and head cover store (still of course avoiding the “Wigwam” place from a few weeks ago). Mom walked right in, sat down and said she wanted to invest in some head coverings. She was willing to try anything on and wanted colors that would match with different clothing. We tried on turbans, hats and scarves mostly. She looked adorable in most things but knew right off if it was something that just would work. Sadly, the wide brimmed Kentucky Derby style hat I wanted her to buy did not win out. But she did fall in love with another sweet very functionable hat that looks super cute on her. So in the end, we walked away with kind of a sampling of everything. That way she can try different styles out and see what she feels the most comfortable in. We then went and had her wig styled and trimmed that we purchased a few weeks ago and then took her “wig” out to lunch. It ended up being such a fun day although we were absolutely exhausted in the end.

So about now, we know that everyone is curious as to what our Mom looks like without hair. First things first, she looks absolutely beautiful. When most of her grandkids were gathered on Sunday, no one seemed to be bothered or afraid--and this was such a relief to her. We took pictures along the way for family memories but with Mom's permission she has decided that she would let us post a few of them on her blog. So many of you are on this journey with her and she wants you to know that she is o.k. There were a few tender moments as to the reality of this whole thing, but she is doing fabulously--and you will see again, below, how she continues to teach through all of this. We love you, Mom! She goes in for her second treatment of Chemo tomorrow. Thank you everyone for all the letters of love and concern and care. It has meant the world.

The shaving begins...


Mom's Rockin' Mohawk

The complete--BEAUTIFUL buzz

How you will see our Mom the next several months. You look gorgeous, Mom!
We are SO proud of you.

10 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness Gayle! You look beautiful! You do have a darling head and such a pretty face. :) I love all the hats too, you pull them off very well. I hope you are doing alright and feeling okay. Tom and I love you and have you in our prayers. I hope the chemo went okay today too. Thank you for keeping us posted, we appreciate hearing about you and look up to your positive attitude and example. If I were you, I would really might consider the mohawk for a future do, I think you got the spunk to pull it off. :) We love you!
    Megan & Thomas

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh my dear sweet aunt....you look JUST MAAVELOUS! That post brought tears to my eyes, but the smile on your dear face in the pictures was priceless to me..thank you. I continue to think and pray for you often. Lots of love

    ReplyDelete
  3. My darling aunt Gayle! I adore you! This post made me cry, but it also made me laugh out loud - and to do both is saying something. By the way...the mowhawk was awesome! We are praying for you and love you oh so very much. We both love this word you use and so we say to tell the cancer "that's 'rudabaga'"!!! :o) We love dearly!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Gayle...you look beautiful! Hang in there.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I feel like I went through this little hair journey with you. This post had me crying and laughing and being so grateful for your wonderful attitude. And I know it has been said but you really have a great head shape and look so cute in all the hats and scarves. I'm glad you embrassed your inner Rocker. :) You look beautiful. I love you!!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. LOVE THE WIG! Super cute! We had a lady in my ward who had cancer and always styled her wig really cute. No one even knew it was a wig! HANG IN THERE! Love Katie's friend : Angela

    ReplyDelete
  7. It also brought tears to my eyes. Thanks for being an inspiration to all of us. You are AMAZING!! Thanks for your courage. We love you. Jessica Dunford

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a great attitude you have and what a wonderful family! Thanks for inspiring us with your blog which reports in word and photos both your inner and outer beauty. You are a special and loved person. Your experience with this battle is so different than mine was (28 years ago) but at least I can serve as an example of knowing there is health and happiness ahead when the battle is won! Your girls are helping to make this difficult journey sprinkled with some fun and I think they must have the same sweet and clever and spiritual personalities that their mother possesses. Keep up the good fight, and we will continue to follow your blog and keep you in our prayers.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh, Gayle, you have such a dear smile - we are so blessed having you as a sister! Thank you for your good example. Love ya, Jill

    ReplyDelete
  10. If you are reading this and you are suffering from any kind of human disease God just heard your prayer,Dr Itua Herbal Center Contact,Email: drituaherbalcenter@gmail.com Or WhatsApp:+2348149277967.
     I was so very sick when I came across someone telling story of his life on how Dr Itua gave his dead life back to her, Her Name was Achima Abelard A Germany lady.
    Dr Itua help me to cure my Bladder cancer, I take his treatment for 3 weeks and I was cured completed. He resides in west African but I order his herbal medicines through Mail which I received withing 5 days also I was instructed on how I will drink it for 3 weeks to cure which I did totally I'm well now.
    I think this Dr Itua is A GOD sent from heaven because i have heard several times that there is no cure but Dr Itua surprises me, put joy on my face.if you are suffering from,Bladder cancer,Throat cancer,Thyroid Cancer,Uterine cancer,Fibroid,Angiopathy, Ataxia,Arthritis,Amyotrophic Lateral Scoliosis,Brain Tumor,Fibromyalgia,Fluoroquinolone Toxicity,Multiple myeloma,Tach Diseases,Leukemia,Liver cancer,
    Esophageal cancer,Gallbladder cancer,Gestational trophoblastic disease,Head and neck cancer,Hodgkin lymphoma
    Intestinal cancer,Kidney cancer,Hpv,Lung cancer,Melanoma,Mesothelioma,Neuroendocrine tumors
    Non-Hodgkin lymphoma,Oral cancer,Breast Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Ovarian cancer,Hepatitis,Skin cancer,Soft tissue sarcoma,Spinal cancer,Adrenal cancer.Bile duct cancer,Bone cancerStomach cancer
    Testicular cancer,
    Syndrome Fibrodysplasia Ossificans ProgresSclerosis,Alzheimer's disease,Chronic Diarrhea,Copd,Parkinson,Als,Adrenocortical carcinoma  Infectious mononucleosis. Vaginal cancer,Vulvar cancer,,Sinus cancer,Brain cancer,Hiv,Herpes,Colo-Rectal Cancer,Chronic Disease.

    ReplyDelete