I responded to a satirical post from a friend yesterday, revealing a private matter about m
y hair. I thought the discussion was closed until today when I read my daily BlogHer feed that this week was "Are you Blogging for Invisible Illness Awareness Week?" So I decided to participate and repost my comment here.I am a mother, living with postpartum heart failure and lupus. The drugs that I take to manage those two chronic illnesses to a point where I can mother my daughter and run a small biz, are very hard drugs. The kind that make your hair fall out every day..
I thank God and my doctors for referring me to a non-profit that gives free wigs to women who have cancer or other chronic illnesses. I thank God for my Girl Scout troop who donated their hair to the Locks of Love Foundation, to provide wigs for children under sixteen, who are cancer and chronic survivors.
Having a healthy scalp...shoot...having a full afro would mean so much to many people. Hair extensions affords them at least the ability to walk among "the blessed" without having to feel more brave than they already are.
My hair is slowly coming back to its former glory, but I do use extensions and hair pieces and will continue to, probably even after my hair is back.
I encourage you to support Pantene Beautiful Lengths and local hair salons that privately assist women and men with chronic illnesses.
7 comments:
Look at my blog & the post for June 18th. It is ONLY hair and has nothing to do with who you are as a special child of God.
Great post! Giving hair is free but few people realise just how much it could mean to someone, especially little girls.
I can't afford to give much in cash to charities, but I do grow my hair long for an annual donation-haircut, and volunteer time. We never know when we'll need to be on the receiving end of these things!
Hope you're doing well, meanwhile. (I write & read Christian fiction--glad to find you!)
Thanks Lora and Susan.
Lora: It is only hair, but sometimes especially when you don't feel so well you want to look like your old self. I will definitely check out your post. Thanks for stopping by. :)
Susan: I didn't realize how important my appearance was to my recovery until I was introduced to hair pieces. It was an immediate pick up and gave me the push to continue physical therapy, which is harder than your docs want to admit.
I think you're beautiful and amazing. If you were bald as a pool ball you'd still be lovely, but I'm so glad the Lord gave you these many gifts through the compassion of so many.
Touching post, sis. Loved it. Love you.
I had no idea! Thanks for sharing Dee. You do what you need to do to KEEP your JOY! You are a shining light and I admire you even more now.
Continue to be a blessing!
Ty
Pay special attention to India Arie's song "I am Not My Hair."
Ashley
http://overcomingschizophrenia.blogspot.com
Hey, Claudia. I called your home a few days ago. Wanted to talk to you about Wounded and other wounded things. :) Thanks, Girl.
Hey, Ty. I'm glad you didn't know. lol That's the point, hon.
Ashley, I love that song. I played it so much when my hair was falling out. It is true we are not our hair. My hair, my skin, my sight all those things were compromised for the healing to begin. I hope you are never in my shoes where you need something to motivate you and remind you who you are so that you can make it through the healing. A good deal of healing is mental. I am strong. However I won't dare tell you that I will choose to wear my illness to the world. They have seen enough. My family sees enough.
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