My heart aches.
If you haven't read this story yet about Ben Sauer....you must.
I'm giving you warning that it's not a very happy story.
My heart just aches for this family.
Their little boy is a month older than Avery. Their baby is Cassandra's age. They are from a suburb extremely close to where I grew up.
I can't fathom the news they have received or how they are even dealing with it.
It blows my mind that one day your child is running around completely normal and within a few days you find out the most devastating news that you can possibly receive about your child.
And they appear to be handling it with such grace and optimism. I don't think I would. Of course you never know until you are put into that position, but I just can't imagine it.
Whether you pray or not, please keep this family in your thoughts. They need it.
And remember that every moment you have on this Earth is a gift.
Hug and kiss your loved ones. Tell them you love them. Enjoy the beauty in the small things (and large too!). Embrace every day as just that-a new day. Be thankful you have another day to spend living your life.
Showing posts with label cancer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cancer. Show all posts
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Friday, August 14, 2009
I Did It!
...and here's my proof!
(I know, I know...the suspense is killing you!)
So I haven't had a real haircut in almost three years now---yes, THREE years! When Gabe and I got engaged, my hair was pretty short:
Knowing our wedding was on the horizon, I started to grow out my hair because I wanted to wear it up and have no problems getting the hairstyle I wanted. You can see the picture of us in the right margin-that was at our rehearsal dinner. So that's how much my hair grew in about a year and a half. Of course I got it trimmed here and there, but no more than an inch each time.
After the wedding, I was dying to cut my hair shorter. But then I got thinking-if I cut my hair, I might as well put it to good use. The problem was that to donate it, you needed at least 8 inches. And at that point, 8 inches would have taken me super, super short...which I didn't want. The shortest I ever had my hair was around april/may 2005. I can't find a pic from then, but found this one from August 2005. My hair is curled so it's a little shorter than usual, but you get the idea.
So, I decided to keep growing my hair until I had enough to donate. Well, my hair got to be where it is now and it seems to have stopped growing. Whether or not it really stops, I don't know, but it's been at the same length for awhile. I remember this happening when I was a kid too. I always wanted hair to my butt and once it hit mid-back, it seemed to stop! I decided since I'm off of work for awhile and Avery has been finding my hair that it was time for a change. Last night I went to Pasquale Salon here in Rochester and made the cut! Here are some photos of me before I left (yeah I forgot to brush my hair so it looks sloppy!).
Side view:
Back view:
And here is me less than 2 hours later with a new cut and highlite:
Side view:
Back view:
And me with the ponytail I'm donating:
I decided to donate to Children With Hairloss. I had another place in mind but then Heather over at Heather Drive recently chopped her hair as well and I used a link from her site to find a few other hair donation places. The one I originally was going to go with didn't impress me much. I emailed them a few questions and they weren't very friendly and didn't seem too excited or happy that I wanted to donate so I decided to change my mind. The problem was that my hair was highlited already and most sites will not take color treated hair. So my options were limited, but I did find a place which makes me happy. I'm glad my hair will get put to good use.
And my new cut? I like it! I wanted it to be layered (it isn't right now) but he (yes my first time having a man do my hair) talked me out of it. The reason is because I just had Avery, I'll be shedding hair. I guess when you're pregnant, your body retains all of its hair. Then a few months after the baby comes, you shed all of the hair you should have shedded during those 10months. So your hair tends to look a lot thinner and you have new, short hairs replacing the ones you lost. So basically your hair layers itself! He said if he had layered it, then I started to shed, my hair would look extra thin and too layered. So we stuck with all one length for now and in a few months once my hair has adjusted itself, I can get a more "stylish" cut. It is funny running my hands through it and washing it though-there is nothing there! It'll take a few days to get used to that's for sure!
(I know, I know...the suspense is killing you!)
So I haven't had a real haircut in almost three years now---yes, THREE years! When Gabe and I got engaged, my hair was pretty short:
Knowing our wedding was on the horizon, I started to grow out my hair because I wanted to wear it up and have no problems getting the hairstyle I wanted. You can see the picture of us in the right margin-that was at our rehearsal dinner. So that's how much my hair grew in about a year and a half. Of course I got it trimmed here and there, but no more than an inch each time.
After the wedding, I was dying to cut my hair shorter. But then I got thinking-if I cut my hair, I might as well put it to good use. The problem was that to donate it, you needed at least 8 inches. And at that point, 8 inches would have taken me super, super short...which I didn't want. The shortest I ever had my hair was around april/may 2005. I can't find a pic from then, but found this one from August 2005. My hair is curled so it's a little shorter than usual, but you get the idea.
So, I decided to keep growing my hair until I had enough to donate. Well, my hair got to be where it is now and it seems to have stopped growing. Whether or not it really stops, I don't know, but it's been at the same length for awhile. I remember this happening when I was a kid too. I always wanted hair to my butt and once it hit mid-back, it seemed to stop! I decided since I'm off of work for awhile and Avery has been finding my hair that it was time for a change. Last night I went to Pasquale Salon here in Rochester and made the cut! Here are some photos of me before I left (yeah I forgot to brush my hair so it looks sloppy!).
Side view:
Back view:
And here is me less than 2 hours later with a new cut and highlite:
Side view:
Back view:
And me with the ponytail I'm donating:
I decided to donate to Children With Hairloss. I had another place in mind but then Heather over at Heather Drive recently chopped her hair as well and I used a link from her site to find a few other hair donation places. The one I originally was going to go with didn't impress me much. I emailed them a few questions and they weren't very friendly and didn't seem too excited or happy that I wanted to donate so I decided to change my mind. The problem was that my hair was highlited already and most sites will not take color treated hair. So my options were limited, but I did find a place which makes me happy. I'm glad my hair will get put to good use.
And my new cut? I like it! I wanted it to be layered (it isn't right now) but he (yes my first time having a man do my hair) talked me out of it. The reason is because I just had Avery, I'll be shedding hair. I guess when you're pregnant, your body retains all of its hair. Then a few months after the baby comes, you shed all of the hair you should have shedded during those 10months. So your hair tends to look a lot thinner and you have new, short hairs replacing the ones you lost. So basically your hair layers itself! He said if he had layered it, then I started to shed, my hair would look extra thin and too layered. So we stuck with all one length for now and in a few months once my hair has adjusted itself, I can get a more "stylish" cut. It is funny running my hands through it and washing it though-there is nothing there! It'll take a few days to get used to that's for sure!
Friday, August 22, 2008
Little Things....
Sometimes it's the little things in life that smack you in the face and give you perspective on life. This site is one of them. Today I had another one happen. I was at work and started a new patient evaluation. We got chit chatting and I asked how her summer was going (like I do with almost every patient). Her response? "Not too good." I didn't ask anything because I was afraid of what I'd hear. She offered up "I just found out my niece has stage 4 cancer." Yes, stage 4-really bad. The conversation continued and I found out that she's 26. She had a mole removed several years ago that was cancerous then was declared cancer free. She later found a lump in her breast that was also removed. So I asked how she found out it was cancer-since it's stage 4 it is pretty far along. I guess she was finding these little bumps under her skin and went for some testing....they found it had spread to her liver, her shoulder socket, etc. Its basically everywhere-it somehow has spared her spine and brain. She went for chemo for awhile and it did nothing. She went for her first radiation treatment this week so they're not sure how that will go. Then on top of it, the girl was engaged (was with the guy 6-7 years) and he dumps her! It just breaks my heart-and I don't know why it touched me as much as it did. I know tons of people get cancer and kids get it, etc. But this for some reason really hit me. Maybe its because she's close to my age. Maybe because it was a complete stranger who opened up to me...a complete stranger to her. I dont know. Let me tell you, I never have cried in front of a patient, but this was close-I really had to concentrate and think of not crying. As I'm writing this, I'm crying. It was just one of those eye opening moments that makes you realize your life is good. Thank God it's Friday.
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