We are hair for you!

Dear friends, family and generous contributors,

After surviving sepsis due to a kidney infection this past summer (which took its toll physically and mentally), I thought life was back on track. I was going to survive and determine my purpose for the future. However, at a follow up exam for the infection, my doctor advised me to have an ultrasound for a lump found in both of my breasts. The results came back that I had a different cancer in each breast, one ductal and the other lobular. My decision to have a double mastectomy was not easy, but I felt it was the best choice for my future health.

During the operation, lymph nodes were removed and biopsied. The results indicated that the breast with ductal cancer was clean. However, the lymph nodes on the breast with lobular cancer came back positive for cancer. Since that point, I have found out that my scans are clean, so I have made the choice to endure 5 months of chemotherapy to rid my body of this horrible disease. I know chemotherapy will cause me to lose my hair. I am willing to be a warrior and endure all of the side effects of chemotherapy to give me a chance at a longer, healthier life.

During the process of recovering mainly from the depression of a long hospital stay due to the sepsis, I began volunteering at a local nonprofit, Louisville Grows. Louisville Grows' mission of growing greener, healthier neighborhoods aligns with my passion and belief towards the environment. The organization needed me and gave me purpose. Immediately, I was welcomed with open arms by the staff of Louisville Grows and they made me feel l like I could really contribute to their organization. Not only has the staff supported me during my diagnosis and surgery with breast cancer, but their concern has remained for how I can best fight and become healthy again. This concern led to Simon, Louisville Grows' Urban Garden Program Manager, offering to cut his beautiful long locks and donate them to me along with my own hair. This act of kindness caused Ked, the Executive Director, to explore the possibilities of making this gesture a reality. Ked came upon Compassionate Creations’ website.

Compassionate Creations understands that the possibility of losing your hair due to cancer treatment can be devastating news. They understand how hard the appearance related side effects of cancer treatment can be on women. That's why they decided to specialize in making wigs for women from their own hair. They've seen first-hand how valuable a wig made from your own hair or the hair of a loved one (Simon) can be in the healing process. Having a wig made from my own hair will enable me to feel like myself again and allow me to retain a piece of my identity.

Louisville Grows has decided to sow seeds for not only the gardens in our community and plant trees to improve the health of the community, but to create a campaign to show how much their volunteers mean to them. Knowing that I cannot possibly afford to fund Simon’s compassionate offer on my own fixed income, they are providing an avenue to make this possibility a reality. On Sunday, January 20, 2019, the day before I began my journey into a full recovery, Louisville Grows is hosting an open house at their office, Healthy House (1641 Portland Ave.), 5 - 7 pm, to help fund my hair-raising campaign.

Everyone is invited to join in the “We are hair for you” campaign , either by attending the event or contributing online. I will not make it through this journey by myself! I need the support and love from friends, family and anyone who understands the difficulty of standing up to cancer. Please join me.

Thank you from the top of my head to the bottom of my heart!

Marijane