To celebrate, I decided today was the day.
It's been a little over a year and a half since my niece was diagnosed with Leukemia. She's on the upswing and doing well these days, but we knew early on that she was facing a variety of chemo treatments. It was a foregone conclusion that she would lose all her hair. I did a lot of research and looked into options to donate hair so she wouldn't have to go through the embarrassment of being bald. As it so happened, she didn't particularly care to wear anything to cover her lack of hair, and the only time she was self-conscious was when insensitive adults (!) made pointedly rude remarks about it. (PSA: If you see a bald kid who's looking a tad anemic, don't stare, and if she's wearing pink and purple, don't call her a boy. I might just overhear and come smack the snot out of you.)
Here's a tidbit that's not widely known by the general public: most hair donations don't actually ever go to kids in treatment for cancer, because the hair loss is not permanent. Most recipients will be kids with alopecia from other causes. Now, I do empathize with kids who have permanent hair loss, and I'm not saying you shouldn't donate to benefit them... I'm just saying do a bit of research regarding the intended recipient because it takes a long time to grow enough for a wig.
In fact, most agencies state that it takes about six ponytails to make a wig. I have unbelievably thick hair, so I'm hoping my donation is enough for about half a wig. :)
I've been growing my hair since November, 2008, without coloring or processing it. I looked around and decided to send mine to Pantene Beautiful Lengths. They only require 8" of hair to make wigs, and their only recipients are cancer patients.
Here is the before:
and here is what I sent (4 ponytails, 11+" long, each):
My head feels so much lighter, and it's wonderful not to have to wait all day for my hair to dry. I hope they are able to put it to good use, and I wish a speedy recovery to the chemo patient who receives it.I think it'll be kind of neat to look back and remember that my hair was its shortest ever on the longest day. :)
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