Hats and a hint of hair.

Last summer after a few rounds of radiation therapy, Sam was a little concerned about loosing his hair.  By this time, it had begun to fall out, a little each day.  Each morning when he would wake, strands of his beautiful red hair would remain on his pillow.  After each bath, pieces would float in the water and cling to the side of the tub.  After a few days of this, we realized that it would probably be best to cut his hair as short as we could as he continued to loose the rest of it.  After all, the doctors told us all of it would go once chemo began.  Once Sam’s hair was gone, he began to cover his little head with a hat.  Ball caps were sported during the warmer months, but as we entered autumn, followed by winter, ski caps became the hat of choice.  Sam has been showered with hats of all varieties from friends, family, a client of mine whom I just met this summer, and even hats from generous people we do not know.  People are so kind and thoughtful.

As you can see from this SMALL SAMPLING (believe me, there are plenty more!), Sam has quite a collection of hats and is rarely seen without one.  Some are too big, some are just right, some are just plain silly, and some have even been autographed by well known people, and he loves them all!  He says he feels more comfortable wearing a hat and says he doesn’t like people staring at him when he goes without.  But lately, over the past week or two, we have seen some hints of hair!  He even has some wild strands that are about an inch long.  His eyelashes and eyebrows are even beginning to make an appearance.  This brings such a smile to his face and we catch him from time to time admiring his new sprouts in the mirror.  No, it doesn’t seem to be the beautiful red shade that he had before treatment, but it’s hair and eyelashes and eyebrows and proof that someday it will grow back and he will feel a little like his old self again.  Will he loose it again since he is still receiving chemotherapy?  Probably.  We have three and a half rounds to go.  But for now, these little strands give him hope and something to look forward to when he can run and play and blend in with other children and not have to be asked about why he is wearing a hat.  A time when he won’t be reminded of cancer.

Until next time,

Erica