Haircut!

Right on schedule, my beloved hair started to fall out this week.  I could run my fingers through it dry and come out with a good amount but where I really started to see it come out was in the shower.  For a few days I had been getting fistfuls of hair in the shower and decided that I was ready to see it go.  It is kind of traumatic to see it slowly come out by the handful.  From my perspective it was better to cut it off on my terms and be prepared than to have to rush to get it cut at the last minute.  So, cut it we did.

Some of my favorite women rallied together and really made it a fun experience. These friends are special because we met as teenagers working at summer camp together (almost 15 years ago!).  Anyone who is a summer camp person knows the unique friendships that are born from hot summer days spent outdoors.  There is no friend in the world quite like a camp friend.  They made t-shirts and filled a basket with snacks and lotion and magazines and other things that I can use throughout my treatments. They also made necklaces with the date exactly one year from now engraved on them that came with the promise that we will get together on that date and celebrate when this is all over. That is friendship.

Special thanks also goes out to Emily Cook at Salon – Image, Body, Spirit in Oakley. She was so generous with her time and was really sensitive to the situation. Thanks Emily!

Bradley has also been a trooper. This has to be a difficult experience for him too but he has been so supportive with it working hard to make me feel like the whole hair thing is no big deal.  I am blessed by his constant love and encouragement.

I have been reading a book with Austin called "Nowhere Hair" that talks about mommy losing her hair because of cancer. I was hoping it would ease the change for him.  He enjoys pointing out his favorite hats in the book and saying "I like that one."  This morning when he woke up I was wearing a head scarf and he kept asking me to take it off but he wasn't phased one bit by the short hair.  

Now that it is done and over with I am trying not to be too sentimental even though it is tough to see it go. However, I keep it in perspective by reminding myself that this is my trade-in for getting to live!  Without the miracle drugs that make me lose my hair I wouldn’t have the privilege of being around see my little loves grow up. With that in mind… bring it on!