i’m not sure what I expected. When you hear the word cancer you wonder what you would do if you ever got that call. i did not react the way i thought i would, and actually, at times, it still seems surreal.
From the moment i found the mass, God gave me and dad an almost unreal peace about it. He has gone before us in so many ways! The people that He has directed in my path have been amazing! Very knowledgeable! Great bedside manner! Moving at a pace that is sometimes overwhelming, but also comforting. They have taken the time to sit with me and explain everything, answering any and all of my questions as best they can. i really feel like there is a team of people that are working with me to beat this.
When i was diagnosed, i did not look sick. Everyone was surprised. Actually, even in the second week of treatment, i still didn’t look sick. At least in public. There were some side effects the first week, but nothing like you see on tv. They were more internal, and a response of my body to the chemo in my system.
Still, i had been reading up on the effects of chemo, and found that sometime between the second and third treatment, my hair would start to fall out. Not in one fell swoop, or even a over a period of hours, but clumps of hair would fall out randomly, over a time that could be a couple of days, or even weeks. So i called one of my best friends, and asked her to go with me to get a buzz cut. i was looking for her to be there for me as a comfort and encourage. She was so much more. She had her hair buzz cut with me! i cannot tell you how much that meant to me. As much as i hate to admit it, it was hard losing my hair at first, however she made it much easier. But now that it is coming out, i’m ready for it all to be gone. It is coming out in sections, and the top of my head looks like i got caught a weed-whacker. Not exactly my best look. i have, well, had, a LOT of hair. Been told that all my life. So even though it has been falling out at a steady pace for about 2 weeks, there is still quite a bit left!
Before I got my hair buzzed, i got an idea. My two “kids” were still sporting their cold weather coats, and dad’s hair was also getting a little long. So i had a friend come over and take “before” pics. All of us with all our hair. Then when i finally go bald, the kids are groomed, and dad get’s his haircut, we are going to do an “after” pic. i promise to put both pics up when that happens.
