I, like many of you reading this, have lost several people I love to the fight against cancer. After loosing someone recently, I decided that it was time for me to do something. Determined, I searched for ways to help raise money to help find a cure. Without thinking it through (the head shaving, that is) I decided that I would shave my head to help raise money for St. Baldrick's foundation. The St. Baldrick's Foundation is a volunteer-driven charity that funds more in childhood cancer research grants than any organization except the U.S. government.
Signing up was the easy part. I went to http://www.stbaldricks.org/start-an-event- and signed up to be a "Virtual Shavee". The foundation made it very easy for me to share my story and to promote the fundraising. I shared my story on Facebook with all of my friends and family. Much to my surprise I quickly met my goal (which I originally set at $500). I decided I was going to raise my goal since I had a few weeks left before "the shaving". I reached my new goal of $1000 on the day of the event. My head was shaved on August 12, 2013. My Virtual Event participant page.
There were about 100 people at the event watching the head shavings, and proudly I must add that once I announced that I was hosting the event another woman and four men joined me in becoming "Shavee's"!!! Hats off to them!!!
THE EMOTIONAL PART - Much to my surprise, immediately after the event I started receiving emails from people that were at the event. Each one of them shared their personal story of how they themselves or someone they loved had fought cancer, and how much the event meant to them. I must say, that was the hardest part of the event. Reading each and every email made me cry.
The first day after I got home and the excitement started to wind down, I looked in the mirror and realized - OMG! I am BALD!!! YIKES - What a sight!!! I had no idea how much my hair defined who I was. The feeling on my head the first day was so weird. As you would assume, going from long hair to no hair made my head frequently become cold. The first week the skin on my head felt like it was crawling... that is the best way I can describe that feeling. And after about the first two weeks I started feeling normal again - thanks to my quick growing hair (I should mention that I started taking prenatal vitamins and Biotin about 3 weeks prior to the event).
Looking back on the emotional experience, and how people looked at me when I was completely bald, and how some people still look at me 10 wks later with my short spiky hair, I could not imagine loosing my hair, and on top of how that makes you feel, not knowing if I was going to win the fight against cancer, not to mention the physical pain associated with the disease.
Long story short - this is my attempt at helping us win the fight against cancer. If you are interested in donating to my event, or having your own, please visit My Virtual Event Page
UPDATE: One of the fun things about shaving my head is watching it grow back - oh and to finally see what my natural color is. OMG, It is dark!!! Not sure that it will stay dark, but for now - I am a brunette! However, I have confirmed - blondes do have more fun... lol
Before I decided to shave my head I looked on the internet for growth pictures from someone else that had shaved their head, a girl of course. I found it very difficult to find therefore I decided that I would be taking lots of pictures and posting them. Sooooo....
Week 1-4
Yes, I like bows. I felt very naked in the beginning. The red headband in the week 2 picture is from headbands of HOPE. headbands of HOPE help raise money to fund research for childhood cancer. Please click on the link above to find out more.
Ok - off to upload some more pics for a more recent "UPDATE".
Ok, so I have finally uploaded my pictures from my phone to my computer. So, below you will see my week 5-8- post St.Baldrick's event hair growth. The pictures really don't show much, but I am telling you - these are the weeks when I started putting gel in my hair...lol! J (my husband) was like "REALLY??? Your hair is not long enough for you to need gel". Um, yes it is! I mean seriously - after you have not had hair on your head for weeks. This is LONG hair!!! Notice I finally felt more comfortable with my new hair - only one ribbon!!! :) |
| Post St. Baldrick's hair week 5-8 |
About this time, around week 4 or 5, I decided I missed my hair and that I wanted a Wig. My friend Jeremy O. knew just where I could find one!!! We went to what I would call a wig shop - I swear they had like 5000 wigs. Jeremy said that I HAD to have a lace front wig.
Finally!
Week 9 and 10 have been great. My hair is finally starting to feel like a style, and I am wearing hair products that I actually NEED to keep my hair from standing straight up! Lots of compliment from people that have no idea that I have not intentionally cut my hair to look like this... Its natural!!! lol! Soon it will be time for my first haircut!!!
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| Post St. Baldricks Week 9-10 |
I'm thinking that in the next week or two I am going to go for the PINK look. I mean, how many times in my life am I going to have hair this short??? And I cant wait to dye it blonde again!
What do you think???
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