I'm Too Sexy For My Hair!

Today reminded me of a very unique and fantastic experience which ironically enough has to do with my hair. I have a fantastic salon; Scizzors in Shrewsbury MA. I have been going there for seven years. I originally found out about them because I worked for Worcester Foothills Theatre Co. and they took care of all the hair needs for our actors/actresses that were in our shows.

I will never forget my first experience going there. You walk in the door and you are greeted with smiles and this overwhelming feeling of warmth. They really are focused on pampering, they take your coat, offer you something to drink (which also includes beer or wine, not just water or coffee). Once you are all set someone comes and brings your over for your shampoo. I have to say that this is one of my favorite things about Scizzors. All the employees are willing to help everyone out. Often it is a different employee washing your hair than your regular stylist. This is great because you get to know more of the staff.

But my absolute favorite thing about the whole experience is their infamous scalp massage. I swear most people would go sooner than they have to just to get that done. As soon as they start you just melt. Then they shampoo/condition your hair and set you up at your station. I have had multiple stylists over the years but they have all been great. Always listened to what I wanted or helped guide me through my hair woes. I would definitely say they have made me a long time customer for good reason.

Aside from their normal customer treatment I also have a very unique story that Scizzors is a huge part of. I am currently a 3 year lymphoma survivor. I was first diagnosed in August 2010. One of the first things my oncologist explained to me was that I was going to lose my hair. This is what I looked like right before my diagnosis...

Notice that my hair was fairly long and STRAIGHT. After my diagnosis and deciding on my treatment options I had my first round of chemo. I decided there was no way I was going to be able to handle my hair falling out if I left it the way it was. I called and made an appointment with Rebecca; my stylist; to have it all cut off. That was exactly three years ago today, August 24th, 2010!

It wasn't until I got there that I told them why I was cutting off my hair. They were 100% supportive about the whole thing. Rebecca even said, "Well even though it's going to fall out I'm going to make you look great until it does." She helped with another huge thing I wanted to do which was donate my hair to locks of love. I figured if it is getting cut off and going to fall out anyway it should go towards a worthy cause. They took care of it all and she was right I left there looking amazing even though it was a huge difference!

I was going through treatment for some time after that and once I stopped it took a very long time (in my world anyway) to even get a little bit of hair back.

This was about 2 months after my last treatment.

It was close to a year before I was back at Scizzors. I was unsure of what to do with my hair at this point. It was real short, fuzzy, wavy, just plain odd. I actually emailed them to find out if they would be willing to do a consult with me just because I had no idea what to do with this new hair of mine but it was still too short to really cut. I was welcomed with open arms. John who is the owner of salon emailed me back and offered for me to come in before they opened or after they closed if I wanted privacy. He explained that they helped other people who had been through chemo so they knew what to expect. I actually went in to see them the very same day. He explained that my hair was two textures and that the soft baby like hair would have to be cut off. Then it would start to grow more and be easier to manage.

That was the beginning of my new hair journey. John and everyone else at Scizzors has been with me every step of the way since. That was 2 years ago and today I am finally at a place where I am ok; maybe even happy with the way my hair is now. It is just about to the length it was before treatment only now it is really CURLY!!! The curl has grown on me, for at least a year and half I hated that it was curly and hoped it would return to the way it was.

John has always been nothing but supportive, informative, and encouraging reminding every time I have come in, "look it's gotten longer!" And "I know you don't even have to say it we're just trimming it." My favorite thing was that John told me the back of your hair grows faster than the top so he always made sure I didn’t develop a mullet. That would have been bad all around! He also knows to blow dry my hair straight, and a great job he does every time including my last visit to Scizzors.

There will be a time soon where I will be ok with or need to do something different to my hair and you better believe it will all be done at Scizzors! I couldn't recommend them any higher than I already do. Take my word for it you will love everything about it! There is good reason they have been in business for 29 years!

But that brings me to the most exciting announcement. My friend Sara and I have joined Team In Training through the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. We will be running the Tufts 10K on Columbus Day but we also need to raise money to do so. John and Scizzors has offered to work with us by having a fundraising event! We are planning it for sometime in September but the idea will a glamor night! Come to the salon, get your hair done, make up done, have some food & drink, partake in some fantastic raffles and help us raise money to hopefully get one step closer to curing blood cancer!! 

As an added bonus if we reach our goal that night I am going to shave my head and donate all my hair yet again! But this time it is my choice to loose all me hair!! So be sure to stay tuned for all the details on when and how to get tickets. In the mean time feel free to share this blog post or my Team In Training page.

Thanking the Family! Day 2

So as promised here is my day 2 post thanking those who have helped me in the last three years. This particular one is dedicated to my extended family! All of you rock but make no mistake about it I always remember what you all did for me and continue to do for me!

Aunty Cindy & Uncle John you both have been so supportive through everything, sending cards, flowers and fruit while I was going through treatment. Cooking meals for us and delivering them. Helping to pay my health insurance while I was out of work! Uncle John thanks for letting my into the survivors club :) You both continue to support me even now, through my fundraising efforts as well as coming along to Light The Night with us! Thank you for everything!!

Lynda, Lewis and Nicole even though we are miles apart I just wanted to say thank you so much for helping as well with me being able to keep my health insurance while I was out of work! For sending me a care package of lots of different cancer care items, I still have the little hat you sent me and it was with me most of the time while I was going through treatment! You have all been so supportive with your words as well as your donations to all my fundraising efforts. Thank you for it all!

Taryn and Rob thank you so much for coming to visit me while I was in the hospital! It was always such a treat to have visitors even when you were nice enough to bring me some yummy treats too. Taryn you were also great at keeping me company through text and facebook too. That was great it helped me immensely! Also your continued support of all my fundraising efforts and everything I do now is just amazing. Thank you so much!

Derek, Dawn, Ryan and Cintia thank you all so much for you continued support of my fundraising efforts and just your general encouragement of everything I do it means a lot to me!

Marissa you have donated to my team FD and you walk with us for Light The Night that is something that really helps. Thanks for all the support, you rock!

Uncle Robbie, Aunty Sandi, Matt, Becky and Brit you guys are always so supportive! Uncle Robbie and Brit coming to visit me in the hospital when you had to come all the way from NH was amazing! It was so nice to see you guys and of course you got to come when I was in the cool room with a view of the helipad! All the cards you sent to cheer me up and give that little bit of encouragement is great. Also coming out to some of my races and cheering me on is so fantastic, who doesn't love to have a cheering section! Brit and Matt one of these days I will get you to do a race with me! Thank you all so much for everything!

Uncle David, Aunty Bev and Nathan thank you so much for always sending cards and helping in anyway you could while I was going through treatment. It was so nice to have that lift up just the right moment when your good thoughts would make it to me! Thank you so much for all your support!

Jennifer I will never forget when you told me you were running the disney marathon with Team In Training and I was your honored hero! That meant/means more than you will ever know! Thank you so much for everything, I know how much work goes into all the training for a marathon and the fact that you did it not only for me but every other person effected by blood cancer is amazing, Thank you so much!

Trisha thank you so much for all your support. You might not live next door but you always let me know how supportive you are! Thank you!

Last for today but certainly not least I would like to thank my Grandmother! You have always told me and showed me how much you love me. You came to visit me often, helped pay for my health insurance and always made sure we didn't need anything or that we had money for gas to get to the hospital/appointments or just for anything else we needed. You always tell me how proud of me you are and continue to show me support through everything I do!

I also can't thank every one of you for coming to or supporting the benefit that they held for me. It was great to see you all there, feel the love from all of you and know that you all believed in me! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Stay tuned for tomorrow! :)

http://teamfd.firstdescents.org/2013/fd/AlysAllies/aachorn/

Three Years Later! Day 1

So here I was today sitting in with my LIVESTRONG at the YMCA group and one of them was sharing with us about that their date of their first surgery was 3 years ago yesterday. I started to think about my cancer journey only because I too was coming up on my 3 year diagnosis mark. The more I thought about I realized that today August 3rd was when my doctor had the unfortunate job of telling me she was 99% sure I had cancer. While the person in my group was talking she mentioned that she pretty much forgotten all about the date. I will admit that having had cancer is a huge part of who I am. I am proud of that because I like to think it is because I try really hard to be very involved in what I consider the cancer community. So I don't often forget things in relation to my diagnosis especially since the dates are tattooed on my body. But I did forget about August 3rd!

So many of you know my story so this isn't about that. I wanted to take the time to thank all those people who have helped me get to where I am today...This might be a little long I've had a lots of help!

My husband is first. I can only imagine what it must have been like for you to have watch me go through what I did. As difficult as it was for me I do understand that most often it is the hardest to watch those that you love while you feel helpless.You only ever cried with me even though I am sure you cried for me as well. You stood by me through everything, helped me at every turn, always have been supportive of whatever I have wanted to do and been one of my biggest cheerleaders at my racing events. Thank you so much for everything, I Love You!

My mom, I know that you lived through what is every parents worst nightmare seeing their child hurting and sick. You were strong for me even when I know it was the hardest thing you have ever done. You came to my appointments, helped keep life as easy as possible so I didn't have to worry about it and have supported me every step of the way since! I love you mom and am so glad you were and continue to be there for me. Love ya!

Julia, we have been friends for far to long for me to mathematically figure out right now. We are basically sisters. You were an amazing rock right from the start. I will never forget this day when you came home with everything you could think of to try and help cheer me up, including brownie batter Ben & Jerry's ice cream! You have been there for me every step of the way in any way you could. You continue to be a huge supporter in my life and I can't thank you enough for everything you do! Love ya sis!

Dr. Jeffrey Barnes or as you have always said, "My name is Jeff." We have actually talked about this at length and you have said that you don't feel like you should get attention or gratitude for something you are supposed to do. But there are a million different way this situation could have turned out. You gave me exactly what I needed to get myself through this from day, a positive outlook and reinforced my strong will to FIGHT! From that day on you have done nothing but provided me with everything I needed to be where I am today which mainly consists of saving my life but so much more beyond that. Always continue to treat your patients the way you still treat me! Thank you for absolutely everything!

Brianne, we started our Mass General journey together and I couldn't be happier about that! You have always been by my side exactly when I needed someone to be, even if you weren't physically there. You went beyond being my Nurse Practitioner, I would like to think you are my friend too! You always have something nice to say and help me realize just what my potential is! Thank you for helping get me to where I am today and just being you!

Mary, you are the epitome of what most people refer to as the feisty nurse. From the moment I met you with your funky hair that feathers in it I knew I was going to love you! You always said it like it was, but I always knew you had my best intentions at heart. I knew if I needed anything or something wasn't right you were the one to tell cause you would get it done. Even though you have moved on from Boston I still know that if there is anything I ever needed I have no doubt you would find a way to get it done! I will see you at some point in Ogunquit I promise! Thank you for everything, you helped me every step of the way!

Jamison and Matty, I have talked to many people who have said the same thing that there are those who you think will be there for you and they run the other direction. Then there are the ones who you think will run and they run right towards you! You both ran towards with me with open arms! Having you both come and visit me while I was going through all that was more beneficial then you will ever know! When I would find out you were coming it would brighten my day. You never made me feel sick, you just came to entertain me or as you both liked to say to pick up nurses! Even though we don't spend a lot of time together now I know that when it's crunch time I can count on both of you! Thank you so much for being my friends and always keeping me laughing!

Sara, honestly were do I even begin. You have helped in me in more ways than I can even explain. You helped me get to appointments, made me food and of course kept me up to date on what was happening in my classroom. As soon as I was feeling a little better you were right there to push me and never let me do the pity me party. You were the one that taught me to never say you can't do something. You started the ball rolling to my recovery and have kept pushing it even to this day! You helped me embrace my new life rather than fearing the unknown. Thank you for always believing in me and for being a good friend!

There are many other people and organizations that I would like to thank, but seeing as I have a few more important dates coming up I will save those special people for another post. But know not one of you has been forgotten! I am going to post a new blog every day from now until my diagnosis date August 12th, so be on the look out! Everyone likes to read something nice about themselves because we have gotten into a society that doesn't really say thank you anymore. But I'm gonna say it!

Hope you all enjoy thus far, stay tuned for tomorrows!