We Are In This Fight Together

Cancer is a terrible disease. It steals so many things from so many innocent people. Cancer stole from me! Cancer stole my ability to have children, it stole my youth, time, health, comfort, joy. Cancer gave me early menopause, fear, anger and separation!

Its easy to feel sorry for those who have to fight cancer but what can you do to help? How can you help others feel less violated by Cancer? This is a question I ask myself daily. This is why I have my blog, share my journey, provide resources. Cancer makes me feel helpless but that feeling motivates me to find a way to help, a way to take back those things that were stolen.

Today I read a post that inspired me. My good bloggy friend over at Hi Ho Ohio is doing something that I only wish I could do. I have copied her post and re-posted on my blog. After you read this I hope you take the time to visit her blog and say hello! And...if you are interested in doing what she has so generously volunteered to do I have the links on my blog!


One week of hair


Edited at 5:00pm, found another photo I failed to attach!






So here is the story.....


On Saturday 11-22-08 I will be cutting my hair


for locks of love, an


organization that donates hair for children's hair pieces for those who are not able to afford to purchase a hair piece themselves. You must donate a 10 inch "ponytail" in order for their to be enough to make the sizes needed. As you can see, I have the required amount of hair.




I have chosen this date, 11-22-08 as my donation day for a couple reasons.



First, it is my mother-in-law Gwen's birthday, but it is also the day she died. Gwen suffered and lost the battle with breast cancer. Gwen has a couple wigs and always commented about them. I felt donating on this day, in her honor, would make it double-special.


But, it is triple special. My father, John, was diagnosed with lung cancer just a couple months ago. His birthday is ALSO 11-22 and in his honor, I also will donate for him.


But, this is me today, Monday 11-17-08! And for a few more day, I have to wash and dry all this hair. My emotions are slightly mixed about the whole process.





My husband mentioned my hair was like "Crème brûlée" this weekend....that is his FAVORITE dessert. My girls say they won't know me! I say, it has taken me all this time to grow it and figure out how to fix it....now I will have to re-learn.



But, you know the bottom line....someone, maybe even as many as three children, will have hair. Beautiful, healthy, "Crème brûlée" hair where they would otherwise not have any. It is winter, their little heads are cold and I can make them warm....and I can warm their hearts at the same time.

So, if you have a long ponytail....consider it....your will grow back and you might even want to do it again, that is my plan.




23 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow! great post Meaghan, thanks for passing it on!

BackwoodSophisticate said...

Yay for you! Your hair is so gorgeous, what a wonderful gift! Can't wait to see the new 'do.
I voted for your site. Glad you left me a note on my blog to let me know about the contest.

RandomWonders said...

I have donated my hair 2 times in the past 3 years (unfortunatly my hair seems to be growing slower and it seems to take longer these days) and plan to do it again by next August-if not sooner!!! I recommend it to EVERYONE its so rewarding and such an awesome cause!

Kimberly Tripp said...

yay! I've donated mine before and keep cutting it before it gets long enough to do again. When it's long enough though, that's the plan :)

From A Creative Heart said...

Meaghan...
Great blog post....sadly I have hair that will never work for this, but admire those women who do!!
Love your blog and voted for you!!! Thanks for stopping by mine too!!!
HUGS,
Debbie

Sandi said...

that's so awesome. She's doing a wonderful thing. I posted several awards for you on my blog tonight. And you deserve each one!!!

Farmhouse Blessings said...

Your heart is even more beautiful than your hair!

Smiles,
Lea

silverdot said...

great post Meaghan. My Mom is a two time cancer survivor and my 8-year-old niece is doing locks of love. I'm so proud of them both.

Keeper of the Skies Wife said...

I've donated mine back in 01'. It's one of the best feelings!!

~Mrs. Guru~ said...

That is such an amazing post! I have a friend who donated her hair!

HiHoOhio said...

Meghan
thanks for the shout out and adding my hair story to your blog...I hope we together can inspire others to cut their locks for love too!

Judy said...

I donated my hair in 2005 and have been growing it out since. It's now past my waist, and I could probably cut 10 inches now and still have it be halfway down my back! I'm not cutting it until at least after Christmas, but maybe I'll do it again then.

A couple I know both had long hair, and went in together to have it cut and donate it - both the husband and wife had enough hair to donate, although they were both very short afterwards!

It is always good to see people doing what they can for others with what is available to them.

Tami said...

My 10 yo daughter is getting ready to donate hers as well :)

PinkAvocado said...

what you are doing is an amazing thing, you are a beatiful woman both inside and out. much love for you!
i voted for your site! thanks for leaving the msg!
and what you are doing will definately bring a smile to someone else's face. very sweet of you!

Fifi Flowers said...

VERY nice! Over the years we have had kids at my kids' school donate their ponytails. There seems to always be at least one child per year. It is a wonderful thing to do.
Today is a sad day at my children's school... they are attending a service for a fellow student... she was in 3rd grade... she had a tumor in her brain and lost her battle with cancer last week.
It is a horrible disease... we need a cure!

black betty said...

that is truly amazing...

AngiDe said...

posted about you on my site! I hope you get more votes!

xoxxo

Angie
"Nana's Box"

goldie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
goldie said...

Awesome!
Here is an article that was posted on the web today, might interest you, it is unbelievable.
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/27706917/?GT1=43001

Jay @halftime lessons said...

Thats AWESOME, Meaghan!

Such beautiful hair, too!!

I am shaving my head again in March for St. Baldrick's children's cancer research...such a fantastic way to avoid paying $15 to Supercuts!

J

PS...do you know that your word verification is on? You can easily turn it off...
I wrote about how to do it here...

Putting the FUN in DysFUNctional said...

Beautiful hair! My daughter donated her hair to Locks of Love when she was in 5th grade. =)

Sandra said...

I voted for you!

S Club Mama said...

That is so amazing! I think cutting your hair for Locks of Love is really special.

http://thesclub.blogspot.com/2008/11/new-award.html

You have an award!