A New Year

A few hours before New Year Boris accompanied me to my first haircut here in the Netherlands. To those who don't know me, I have long black hair that nearly reaches my waist---well let me correct myself I HAD long black hair. So why have it cut short? I decided to start a new year with a good deed. I realized that I was extremely blessed for 2009 for all the new people I have met, opportunities that came my way and specially the bliss of family life that I knew I should give something back. I remember a line from one of Oprah's guests where the person said "My life is so great I'd wish it to everyone". Wouldn't that be a nice gesture?

Anyway, I couldn't remember when it was exactly that made me decide on donating my hair to be made as wig for cancer patients as my good deed starter. I think it was because of the right shoulder pain that I have been having the past few days that has made me contemplate on the dreaded "C". You see I lost my mother to a long battle with breast cancer metastasized to the bones. She died at the ripe age of 49 years old after almost 8 years of in and outs in the hospital, numerous blood transfusions,operation, radiation and chemotherapy. There were a lot of times during that period that I was gripped with such sadness. One significant moment was when her hair started falling off because of the chemo. I can still recall how she looked at herself in the mirror and with longing touched her head. Mommy, like most women who had chemotherapy and was faced with hair loss, grieved silently about it. My mom is one of the strongest women I know and she faced the double radiation and chemotherapy bravely but in that one moment when she was looking at her face in the mirror, with just those brief seconds, I felt her pain. Looking back now I wish I had the foresight to prepare her wig beforehand. But I was busy personally attending to her in the hospital during that time that I just didn't think of it. But my grandma did. A few days after my mom got back home her wig was ready! And boy was my mom so happy! The twinkle in her eyes said it all.

With all those memories running through my head I made up my mind to donate my hair. But how? I knew about the Pantene Hair Donation for Cancer Patients but I didn't know if they also do it here. After a few minutes of surfing, with Boris giving me the dutch translation of hair donation, I finally found the one I was looking for---

http://geefomhaar.pantene.be/

I found a lot of sites for hair donation but this one from Pantene specifically targets hair donation to be made as wigs for cancer patients. For those who might be interested in hair donation you might also want to check this website:

http://www.haarwensen.nl/

Going back to my haircut. When Boris told the male hairdresser that I would be donating my hair, he was pleasantly surprised about it. I guess the good deed rubbed off on him because he took a long time in making my braid (this is needed before cutting the hair) and in doing the hairdo. He was so meticulous that it took him more than 30 minutes! But it was all worth it in the end. I am happy, the hairdresser was happy, my husband is happy, the kids seem to recognize me still :) and my in-laws say the hair looks good on me. But most of all I am happy to know that in a few weeks or days time someone will get a wig made from the hair that I donated--- someone who like my mom is silently grieving for what she has lost and is fighting for a better chance in life.

"A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love."
-Saint Basil



My New Hairdo for 2010