rapunzel, rapunzel

"Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair that I might climb the golden stair." Rapunzel is one of my favorite fairytales. No, I don't have golden hair, but I have always cherished my long, curly red hair. I have been teased countless times by friends to give some of my hair to them. One of my professors at college proclaimed that I had his favorite hair on campus & my boss on campus calls me "Amazing Hair." Every time I had to get a haircut or trim growing up I would cry. Not just a trickle of tears, but a bawling flood of tears! So, I suppose it was a shock to both friends & family when I abruptly cut 13" of my "amazing hair" off.

Grandma Gina announced to the family that she had once again been diagnosed with cancer & would begin chemo treatments in June. My grandmother has battled various forms of cancer off & on since her late 20s, but the announcement still scared me.

I had already been considering trimming my hair for the summer. My hair, even in a ponytail, layed on the back of my neck making me very hot as I worked. When Grandma Gina announced that she had cancer, I had Mom measure my hair. If I was going to cut off 6", why not just cut off 12" & donate it to women who have lost their hair because of their battle with cancer? Though my grandmother has never lost a hair on her head in her 40+ years of battling with cancer, I decided that I would donate mine for her.

The Monday after I returned from West Virginia Mom & I went to get my hair cut. Though my hair is a little shorter than I expected, I'm glad that I was able to give my amazing hair to give a courageous woman back some of her pride.

I may not have done much, but I hope I have made an impact & encouraged others to pray for & help those fighting with cancer. After all, even Rapunzel cut her hair.