Mohawk for a Minute

leesag
leesag Member Posts: 621 Member
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
Well, Ladies,

Here it is in it's purple, pink and green glory. The magnificent "Mohawk for a Minute!"

Oddly enough, for about two days before, my hair began shedding much more than usual, which really helped me carry through with my decision to shave my head in advance. I also have to say that I HIGHLY recommend doing it with flair! We had a blast! What could have been traumatic and teary, became an event full of high spirits and laughter!

My two best friends in the whole world shaved my head, the son of another dear friend created the spikes and then my husband spray painted them when dry! When all pictures were done and a toast had been made, everyone took a turn ceremoniously cutting off the spikes (which my daughter wants to save for an art project??!!) and then the final shaving occurred. This too turned into a lot of fun as everyone pulled out their makeup to try to find the perfect RED lipstick to "balance out the bald."

I promised I'd share the mohawk shots, so enjoy it while it's here! I hope to replace it with a more sensible scarf shot soon!

I felt so IN CONTROL for the first time in months!

HUGS to all!

Leesa

Comments

  • Hissy_Fitz
    Hissy_Fitz Member Posts: 1,834
    OMG, Leesa....I love it!
    You

    OMG, Leesa....I love it!

    You have achieved a huge victory over OVCA. You took away its power to steal your hair, and your life. What's the current buzz word? Gnarly? Bad? Balls? Whatever it is, you have it in spades!

    Carlene
  • minky1225
    minky1225 Member Posts: 70

    OMG, Leesa....I love it!
    You

    OMG, Leesa....I love it!

    You have achieved a huge victory over OVCA. You took away its power to steal your hair, and your life. What's the current buzz word? Gnarly? Bad? Balls? Whatever it is, you have it in spades!

    Carlene

    best thing i saw today!!!!
    you are a true champion!!! Thank you for being such an inspiration to me as well as the rest of the OVCA community! I often re-evaluate every stressful situation, cancer related or not, by saying, "These women give it their all every day, so can I!"

    BTW, Carlene, You're witty posts just keep getting better and better and crack me up every time! keep em coming!

    Thanks again girls!
  • kayandok
    kayandok Member Posts: 1,202 Member
    Way cool!
    I love the way you find a way to celebrate every step of the way!!!! And this is the coolest mohawk I have ever seen!
    kathleen:)
  • Hissy_Fitz
    Hissy_Fitz Member Posts: 1,834
    minky1225 said:

    best thing i saw today!!!!
    you are a true champion!!! Thank you for being such an inspiration to me as well as the rest of the OVCA community! I often re-evaluate every stressful situation, cancer related or not, by saying, "These women give it their all every day, so can I!"

    BTW, Carlene, You're witty posts just keep getting better and better and crack me up every time! keep em coming!

    Thanks again girls!

    Thanks, Minky....
    I keep wondering if there is a market for a smart **** (ie: witty) Ovarian Cancer memoir. Then again, it could be that I have read too many Jen Lancaster books of late.

    Carlene

    PS....I think Leesa's husband should be nominated for Best Supporting Role in a Cancer Patient's Biography.........I mean, life.
  • leesag
    leesag Member Posts: 621 Member

    Thanks, Minky....
    I keep wondering if there is a market for a smart **** (ie: witty) Ovarian Cancer memoir. Then again, it could be that I have read too many Jen Lancaster books of late.

    Carlene

    PS....I think Leesa's husband should be nominated for Best Supporting Role in a Cancer Patient's Biography.........I mean, life.

    Memoir
    Carlene,

    I would absolutely buy a smart **** (ie: witty) ovarian cancer memoir. Just one prerequisite; it must have a happy ending!

    Which reminds me: the founder of mylifeline.org, Marcia Donziger was diagnosed with Stage IIIC Ovarian in 1997 and from the looks of the sites I found when I googled her, she's still going strong!

    http://www.mylifeline.org/page.cfm?page=patientoverview

    http://www.linkedin.com/in/marciadonziger

    ;) Leesa


    And lest I forget, My husband has been wonderful through all of this, although it has been tremendously hard for him. He is having panic attacks and his blood pressure is through the roof ;(, but he's always ready to hold me or make me laugh!
  • Hissy_Fitz
    Hissy_Fitz Member Posts: 1,834
    By the way......
    I have been informed by my son that your "do" has a name........Liberty Spikes!

    He LOVED it, too and is so jealous that his mom didn't think of doing spikes, or at least a monochromatic Mohawk. Your hubby gets extra points for thinking outside the cancer box!

    PS.....I wore my "I love the smell of chemo in the morning" shirt to treatment today and everyone went nuts - even my doctor. They had seen lots of "pink" shirts and slogans, but no one had ever seen this one! Since I am officially NED (and no immediate worries on the boob front), I think I'll order the one that says, "I kicked cancer's ****". Yea for us ballsy girls!
  • MK_4Dani
    MK_4Dani Member Posts: 314
    I had my doubts!
    LOL....I didn't think you would do it! You are the benchmark for having a great attitude, fun spirit and bravery. I always knew teachers and nurses are crazy fun. I predict you will kick cancer's ****. Carlene: start writing, I will pre-order.
    Cheers,
    MK
  • Hissy_Fitz
    Hissy_Fitz Member Posts: 1,834
    leesag said:

    Memoir
    Carlene,

    I would absolutely buy a smart **** (ie: witty) ovarian cancer memoir. Just one prerequisite; it must have a happy ending!

    Which reminds me: the founder of mylifeline.org, Marcia Donziger was diagnosed with Stage IIIC Ovarian in 1997 and from the looks of the sites I found when I googled her, she's still going strong!

    http://www.mylifeline.org/page.cfm?page=patientoverview

    http://www.linkedin.com/in/marciadonziger

    ;) Leesa


    And lest I forget, My husband has been wonderful through all of this, although it has been tremendously hard for him. He is having panic attacks and his blood pressure is through the roof ;(, but he's always ready to hold me or make me laugh!

    Cool!
    I joined My Lifeline. I have been emailing updates to friends and family and this will be a great site to put it all out there on, and whoever wants to check it, can do so.

    I used the same alias over there, so you should be able to find me, if anyone wants to take a peek.

    Thanks again, Leesa.

    Carlene
  • msfanciful
    msfanciful Member Posts: 559
    MK_4Dani said:

    I had my doubts!
    LOL....I didn't think you would do it! You are the benchmark for having a great attitude, fun spirit and bravery. I always knew teachers and nurses are crazy fun. I predict you will kick cancer's ****. Carlene: start writing, I will pre-order.
    Cheers,
    MK

    Heyyy Leesa,
    Your mohawk is

    Heyyy Leesa,

    Your mohawk is rockin!

    I only wish I had done it too before shaving all my hair off!

    Oh well, you are representing Lady!

    It's really cool.


    Sharon
  • leesag
    leesag Member Posts: 621 Member

    Cool!
    I joined My Lifeline. I have been emailing updates to friends and family and this will be a great site to put it all out there on, and whoever wants to check it, can do so.

    I used the same alias over there, so you should be able to find me, if anyone wants to take a peek.

    Thanks again, Leesa.

    Carlene

    I can threadjack my own thread :)
    Carlene, I wanted to ask you about your t-shirt: do you have a power port in your chest and does the t-shirt interfere with the IV lines? I'm just curious because I love wearing t-shirts to the point that wearing button shirts to my chemo treatments is like dressing up. And who wants to dress up for chemo for goodness sake?

    :)

    Leesa
  • Hissy_Fitz
    Hissy_Fitz Member Posts: 1,834
    leesag said:

    I can threadjack my own thread :)
    Carlene, I wanted to ask you about your t-shirt: do you have a power port in your chest and does the t-shirt interfere with the IV lines? I'm just curious because I love wearing t-shirts to the point that wearing button shirts to my chemo treatments is like dressing up. And who wants to dress up for chemo for goodness sake?

    :)

    Leesa

    Tee shirts and Power Ports
    Yes, I have a PP in my chest, and it does not interfere with the chemo treatment/IV lines at all. I just pull down the neck a bit and hold it for the nurse while she accesses the port, then let it go back in place.

    Sometimes I wear tank tops with a button-up shirt over the top, but I don't button it, except for the bottom button or two. My button-up-shirt wardrobe is pretty limited, though. Mostly I either wear tee shirts or go whole hog the other way - dressy blouses. Not much in my closet that's "in between".
  • saundra
    saundra Member Posts: 1,370 Member
    Dear Leesa,
    I ABSOLUTELY LOVE YOUR ATTITUDE!!! SAUNDRA
  • catcan
    catcan Member Posts: 119
    Love the hair
    Leesa your hair is awesome and as you say it's just hair and will grow back. I also wish I had been more creative. I had my son and his friend involved in the shaving. It was hardest on my sister who cried and I just laughed. If you go out looking for wigs take your friends with and have them take pictures I did and my daughter put them to music and put them on faceboob for me. Try every color and style I had a ball. Everyone really enjoyed them.

    Hugs back to you

    Cat
  • Tina Brown
    Tina Brown Member Posts: 1,036 Member
    You are amazing
    I am so proud of you for having the guts to do this to your hair - as hair is very important to us girls. You are telling the whole world you have cancer and are not ashamed to let people know. I wish I have been bravew enough to have done something like this. But I have actually gone out of the house without my wig 2 weeks ago - I wear a scarf but still that was a breakthrough for me. I wanted people to see that I have cancer and I am not ashamed and don't want to hide behind the mask (my wig) anymore. Not looked back. My next thing is go out bald - not sure if I can do it but I want do.

    Well done girl :) Keep up the good fight, Tina xxxx
  • leesag
    leesag Member Posts: 621 Member

    You are amazing
    I am so proud of you for having the guts to do this to your hair - as hair is very important to us girls. You are telling the whole world you have cancer and are not ashamed to let people know. I wish I have been bravew enough to have done something like this. But I have actually gone out of the house without my wig 2 weeks ago - I wear a scarf but still that was a breakthrough for me. I wanted people to see that I have cancer and I am not ashamed and don't want to hide behind the mask (my wig) anymore. Not looked back. My next thing is go out bald - not sure if I can do it but I want do.

    Well done girl :) Keep up the good fight, Tina xxxx

    Scarves
    Tina,

    One of the advantages of doing it this way, is that I didn't have a wig yet, so I have to go out in a scarf or a hat unless I want to stay in until my wig arrives. I also found a website that has great scarves, no tying necessary. www.4women.com It's called the "BeauBeau" and it's a little pricey, but I figure for church and things like that, it's a good investment. I'll be changing my mohawk picture sometime this weekend to one of me in my "BeauBeau" as soon as I get the CD of pics from my friend!

    Interestingly, I was most concerned about how children would react to my scarves. Every little girl about six and under who has seen me has smiled and waved. One of them even turned to her mom and said I was pretty!

    I am also very fortunate that my husband has made me feel very comfortable about my new look. He alternates between affectionate teasing and sincere complements. Unfortunately, the nickname he has settled on for me is now Peanut. (It used to be Cupcake, but he told me unless I let him put cake frosting on my head, I couldn't be cupcake anymore! LOL)

    Laughter goes a long way to beating this beast!

    Hugs!

    Leesa