This will be a short post, because I imagine you folks out there would like to know how i’m doing and, particularly, how things are going in the hair department.
Well, as of today, day 18 since my last Chemo, I still have my hair. This has been pretty exciting to me, because our nurse practitioner said I would lose it in chunks anywhere from day 12 to day 20 after my first treatment. The fact that my hair is still with me, gives me great joy. For awhile, I even fantasized that I would be one of the “lucky” few who experienced a medical miracle and didn’t lose my hair. But alas, while it is not coming out in chunks, it’s coming out in strands, particularly in the back. I confess it is a little unnerving to run my fingers through my hair and see those strands wrapped between my fingers. Even still, I thought my hair would be long gone by now.
In my cancer-care-free days, I used to describe myself as having 3 hairs. One on either side of my head and one in the back. (Not endowed in the hair area! I think maybe when God was handing out hair, he thought “Nah, instead of a lot of hair, I’ll give Sandy a lot of HEIGHT!” Hmmm, thank you?) Now I’m apologizing to the three, for not fully appreciating them while I had them!
Yesterday, walking with my friend Gerri, she shared this story which gave me a good, healthy laugh:
“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. “H-M-M, ” she said, “I think I’ll part my hair down the middle today.” So she did and she 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 pony tail.” 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!”
So today, I’m gently styling my hairs, thanking God for another day of having them, for feeling so good these days, and making peace with what’s around the corner…the shaving to once and for all make the move to baldness.
On a happier note, I have my fantastic wigs to look forward to, purchased for me by my mom and my sisters. God bless them!! They are my angels on earth!
Here’s a sneak preview of what’s ahead! My dear friend Jody made my day so much fun yesterday when she helped me to get used to my wigs and alleviate me from getting “wigged” out when it’s time to put these babies on!
Navigating "New" Normals 