In 3 weeks, over 500 people will gather in Clinton to have their hair cut for Pantene's Beautiful Lengths program. The hair is then made into wigs for women who have lost their hair due to chemotherapy from fighting breast and other female cancers. The wigs are free. The hair that was donated last year helped us open up a wig bank at St. Dominic's Hospital in Jackson. Before last year's event, there was no wig bank in this state. I recently received an email from a lady who had the smile put back on her face after she had lost her hair due to chemotherapy. Here is what she wrote:
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Barbie, while I was taking chemotherapy for breast cancer, I lost all my hair. People would tell me when my hair grew back I would have more beautiful hair than I had before......a bad joke in my case. It has been a year since my last chemo treatment and my hair grew back, but not a good crop on the top of my head. It is very thin. Today, I visited the wig room at St. Dominic's Hospital. A room full of hair!! I tried on several and made my selection. I asked the price and was told I owed nothing. It's free? Yes! I wanted you to know how much I appreciate the person who actually grew my "new hair" and to tell that person thank you. Thanks to you, Barbie, for getting the word out by donating your own hair and to all the people involved. This experience of "new hair" really humbled me and is helping me to feel better about my self image as well as helping me get my life back. Now I don't have to wear a hat all the time and for the first time in a long time, I smiled to the mirror.....What a thrill it was! Sincerely, Jeryl in Brandon
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Jeryl's email made my day. It is amazing to hear how a simple wig gave a boost to her self image and made her feel more like a woman. On June 9, we'll make more days brighter for some women in Mississippi.
My daughter Gracie and I will have our hair cut on this day, along with Stephanie Bell-Flynt and her daughter Stevie (and you'll noticed both daughters are in the commercial). This commercial will begin running soon in the hopes of encouraging other women, men and children to sign up and join us.
(By the way, I wonder where Gracie got her southern drawl? Most people probably don't know the word "hair" has 2 syllables: "hay-yeh")
9 comments:
Now that is cute. "Give the gift of hayur."
I'm waiting for my hair to be a bit longer before I do the same thing. Actually, by the time June 9th comes along, I might be ready to hack it all off... Might see you there!
Such a great cause! My husband's grandmother is going through chemo and also visited the hospital's wig store recently. She was amazed when they told her no charge. She made a donation though because she was so touched. Gracie is a doll!
I want to know how you guys get your hair to grow so fast. I have been trying and trying and trying. My hair only gets thicker. It won't get longer!
Barbie, thank you so much for what you have done through Pantene's "gift of hay-uh". My sister was one the women fitted with a wig at St. Dominics last year and like the other women mentioned, she was so grateful and couldn't believe when she heard "no charge". So many women gave her a precious gift. Thank you again for everything you do.
DMay
Ive been reading your blog for a while now and enjoy it.
I think you are so pretty!
:) candy
Barbie,
I am praying that my hair will have grown long enough to donate again. It was such a blessing to donate in my sister's, Brenda Thames and Margaret Schoenberg,honor.
Janice Kilby
Indianola, MS
Only a True Southern Lady can add extra syllables to a one syllable word! Gracie is beautiful! Thank you for your work on this cause. Many, many are blessed.
Jeryl has been an e-mail buddy for quite a while now. We shared her suffering through this last bout of cancer and prayed for her when she needed lifting. She is a wondereful inspiration and I am happy that she has a new self-image.
Saw the commercial today--too cute!
I, too, am actually bald headed at this time but have decided that wigs are not for me. But if they were, I'd want Gracies!!
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