Locks of Love

[willieandwinnie]

I think I must of been trying to give Len a heart attack. I have always had long thick hair, I think that's what Len first noticed about me. My daughter and I went shopping last Friday and we were just looking in this wig shop, they have some pretty cool wigs. This woman approached me and asked (yes, she asked) if she could run her fingers through my hair. I said sure. She then told me that she volunteers for locks of love. They make wigs for cancer patients mostly, but also for other reasons that people loss their hair. She told Ramona and I that they could make many wigs out of my hair. We talked for a few minutes and I told her my Mom died of breast cancer when I was 11 and I always do the Avon walk. She then asked me if I wanted to donate my hair. What you say, oh Lord, you should of seen the look on my daughters face. Too bad I had no  She said they would cut and style my hair anyway I wanted it as long as they cut 10 inches off. I said sure, it's only hair and it will grow back. She had some girl sit me in the chair and made a ponytail at the 10 inch mark, I said, you can have somemore, so she moved the band up a little higher, I said more, she said, are you sure, I said yes. When we were done, she a ponytail that was 18 inches long and for a moment, I thought I was going to be buying a wig. The girl shampooed my hair and then cut some more. I thought it looked really cute, my daughter wasn't so sure. When I walked in the door at home, Len's mouth dropped open and Ramona told him the story. He hugged me and said, I'm not surprised, you are always doing something for others. That comment made my heart feel good. It is taking awhile to get use to not using so much shampoo and wrapping my hair in a bun to do certain things, but I am happy I did it. Now I want my hair to grow really fast, so I can do it again. Thanks for listening to me yet again. 

[okarol]

That's great WAW!! It's such a great gift for cancer patients! I wish you had a photo.

Jenna donated after her hair grew back (she lost a lot when she started dialysis)

[paul.karen]

 

That is a WONDEFUL story.
it is the people like you and so many others that make the world go around and give people with so little, so much hope.

Im sure your mom was smiling down on you.

[monrein]

Kathy, you're the best.  What a wonderful thing to do and a little less painful that donating a kidney although the emotional part could devastate some people.  Not you however and I'm smiling broadly at how meaningful your gift will be to those who will receive it.   

[MandaMe1986]

When I was going through chemo treatments my hair got really thin and I cut it really short to try and keep it from falling all out.  But once I stopped and I grew it back I donated mine, and got my bestfriend to do it too.  It really is awesome what you did. 

[lola]

  Very cool, both my daughters 9 & 6 and I did it

[G-Ma]

              

That is great.  My 2nd husband grew his hair to his waist one time and donated about 2 years before he passed on.  Beautiful hair.

[paris]

To quote AlohaBeth "you have a pretty, shiny heart"  She tells people that when they are so extraordinary in the kindness and their caring.  You are such an example of how we should all live; always thinking of someone else instead of yourself.  And  to Len for embracing what you did instead of bemoaning the loss of your lovely hair.     When my sister in law died from cancer three years ago, 2 of my granddaughters donated their hair.  Eliza (9) is ready to have hers cut again.       I think you are as close to an earth angel as a person can be.       

[willieandwinnie]

okarol, I never even thought about having my cell phone which does have a camera. Maybe I was having a senior moment. Len told me to post this one. This is from 2004 and I did have some of the ends trimmed every now and then but gives you an idea of just how much hair got cut. My back feels colder then normal 

[paris]

Kathy, what an incredibly, beautiful picture!   The men of IHD are going to love it!    Lucky Len 

[monrein]

Beautiful hair Kathy.  And I know you're simply stunning still with short hair....how could you be otherwise with such a beautiful inside.

[okarol]

Kathy - that's a great photo and your hair looks fantastic! 

How about an "after" shot? 

[glitter]

You are very beautiful- inside and out. 

[charee]

what a beautiful thing to do i love the picture now we need an after shot

[Sunny]

Wow, you do have beautiful hair. What a wonderful thing to do. I'll bet it still looks good even after cutting it off. Someone, somewhere will be grateful that you cut it when they get such a nice wig because if it.

[kitkatz]

 

[pelagia]

Beautiful hair, beautiful person 

[Tinah1968]

That is a wonderful thing you did. And it is people like you that make this world a better place.. God bless you. 

[willowtreewren]

Locks of love is a wonderful way to help children get through the side effects of chemo.

I cut that braid off a couple of years ago when I realized that it was starting to get a little gray. They can't use gray hair. The long braid is back, but too much gray now. It is, after all, only hair. I was inspired by a child in my class who cut her hair for Locks of Love. It is such a loving thing to do.

Kathy, your hair was beautiful, but it is what is inside that really counts.
Aleta

[MiSSis]

Why can't they use grey hair?  My mother knew she would be losing her hair when she started chemo about 7 years ago so she went to find a wig in order to try and match her color and style as closely as possible before she actually lost it all.  Because her hair was already grey (almost white), she was able to get a wig that so closely resembled her own hair that many people didn't even know she was wearing a wig.  I've heard that they won't use chemically processed hair, like if you have your hair permed or colored but didn't realize they wouldn't use grey hair also. 

When my mom lost her battle with cancer last year, my dad donated her wig and all of her hats to the center that treated her so that they could offer them to others who might not be able to afford them. 

[jbeany]

"pretty, shiny heart" indeed!

[willowtreewren]

Hi, MiSSis,
I think they don't use gray hair for Locks of Love because the wigs are for children. I remember some time back seeing another donation site for hair for adults, but I don't remember what it was now. 

The important thing is that we all can find ways to help others. It is good for the soul. 

Aleta

[twirl]

you will be getting a pm for RichardMel