Wigged Out...

Dearest Hope,

Ever since we found out chemo was part of Lori's treatment, she has openly discussed the inevitable hair loss that goes along with it. When I first came to visit after her first round of chemo, she had asked me to wash her hair because she could not get her chemo port wet. So there we were, just the two of us in the kid's bathroom. Me holding onto a detachable shower head making sure that the temperature was just right, as she was leaning her head over the bath tub warning me that she may be getting lightheaded after this ordeal. In this lifetime, I now know that I will never be the shampoo girl at Mario Tricoci. I am pretty sure I squirted shampoo in her eye and as I performed my lame attempt at a scalp massage, I could feel Lori squirm as if to tell me "let's just get this over with already!" When all was said and done, she was thankful for clean hair and for the fact that I did not give her third degree burns from my inability to maintain comfortable water temperature.
I looked at her and said, "Dude, how are you going to keep washing your hair like this for the next few months?"
Without missing a bit or batting an eyelash, Lori simply said..."In a couple weeks I won't have any hair".
Even one day post chemo, she had seemed to accept all the things that went along with this treatment.

Fast forward to 2 weeks later...

I spoke with Lori on the phone earlier this week and she was telling me about how she was losing hair here and there and leaving trails all over the house. Tuesday night she decided to take control of the situation, handed the trimmers to her husband and had her Britney Spears moment. I wasn't there and I didn't ask for too many details. But at the time she said that it was emotional, which I can only imagine.
The next day I skyped her so that I could see the results for myself. She answered the call with her perfectly styled wig and then gave me the big reveal. There she was bald and smiling, telling me how comfortable her Louis Vuitton scarf is and showing me how she can still wear her Tasha headbands on her wig. We also had a great discussion on what jewelry pieces she needed to complement this new look. That's Lori for you...determined to be fashionable and beautiful no matter what. And trust me...hair or no hair she really is a thing of beauty!