Hair

We found out that Allison had cancer on a Friday like any other Friday in September. The first thing I thought of was "oh my goodness, is she going to die"? I honestly think the first think that Allison thought was "oh my goodness, am I going to lose my hair"? I've been losing my hair since 1980-something...yeah I'd like to have a nice full set of follicles but I'm content (my word of the year). But its different for women. For women hair is an important thing, for some its even their identity. Allison was known as "Farrah" in school (for you children of the 70's you'll understand the reference). Hair, her identity.

When I first met Allison in 1987 she had short hair, really short but styled in such a perfect way that it caught my attention. It was very "un-Farrah like". She was always receiving compliments on her hair. "Who's your stylist?" "I wish my hair would look good short"... Hair, her identity.

So many people are so concerned for her (for us, actually). I can't begin to tell you how many cards and letters she's received, she's kept every one of them. They're in alphabetical order by last name (she gets her OCD tendencies from me). Everyone wants to say the "right thing"..."my aunt had cancer and she didn't lose any of her hair", "this lady at work had chemo and she never lost her hair", "it'll grow back, its just hair". They say it as words of encouragement but the fact of the matter is Allison is taking 2 different medications (atomic bombs) in her chemo cocktail. Cytoxan only thins the hair, Taxotere removes it. Yeah, God may very well say "I'm going to show off here and let Farrah keep her hair", but the reality is that she'll lose it. They told us it would be 10-14 days when she would first notice it. The small mound of loose hair on the bathroom counter reminded us that today is Day 10.

I can't imagine what she may be going through each time she shampoo's or brushes her hair. The constant "is it falling out yet" scare. She's certainly handling it better than I would (if I had any hair to lose).

Yeah, it'll grow back, its only hair...a lot easier to say from the outside looking in. For Farrah, its really personal, her identity. So I pray for God's Grace to overflow to the point that she can give up this "identity" if only temporary and to know and believe that a blessing beyond her wildest dreams awaits on the other side of this. With or without she'll always be Farrah to me. I loved Farrah in the 70's (didn't we all) and I still love her today.