Pages

On June 1, 2010 our two year old, "Little Air Bear," was diagnosed with Childhood Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) Type M7. After enduring 146 days at Primary Children's Hospital, Erin is now in remission and living a full life at home with our family. Her strong will and constant happy smile is an inspiration to us all. Through our difficult circumstances we found great strength and peace in our Savior, Jesus Christ. Thank you for checking in on us.

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

My cut for cancer

Today I was able to make a difference and give something back. When Erin was first diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia I contemplated shaving my head along with her. I saw a few parents who shaved their heads along with their cancer kiddos. A lot of dads do it, but not too many moms do for reasons we can all guess. I decided that instead of shaving my head that I would grow my hair out and donate it a year later. For some, I'm sure it isn't a big thing to just grow out their hair, but for me it was. My hair is so thick and it got so heavy and it started taking me 2 hours to let it air dry and it took forever to do. It was a sacrifice for me to do this, but I feel so much better having done it.
I made appointments for me and my girls to get their hair cut today. 
Erin was first.  She just got her edges trimmed up.



My five year old has also been growing her hair out, but she was really nervous this morning and she kept going back and forth about donating it or just trimming it. 


In the end she decided to just trim it because she didn't want the kids at school to not recognize her. She is still going to continue growing it out though, and when it gets really long then she wants to donate it. I have been really impressed by her courage to even want to donate her hair for a good cause.


Finally it was my turn.  I was a little nervous.


Just like that it was...chop chop chop.
10 inches.


I really like how it turned out.  It feels so much lighter and I love how it's not itching my neck.



A big thanks to Kristy Fairbanks at the Kutting Edge Salon in Logan for doing our hair today.  We LOVE Kristy!  My mom, sisters, me and my girls have all been going to her for many years.  She is a talented artist and she is so much fun to chat with.  Through some interesting circumstances we have also gotten to know Kristy's mom.  Make-a-Wish contacted Kristy's mom to ask her to make a princess gown for our little Erin.  It was really fun to figure out the connections between the amazing woman making Erin's gown and our talented hairdresser.  Our make-a-wish trip is coming up so soon.  We are all really excited.  Okay...we are way more than excited.  We talk about it everyday.  Everyday.

Join Team Little Air Bear
and help make a difference in
childhood cancer research.
Posted by at
Labels:

12 comments:

  1. alligoodJune 7, 2011 at 5:32 PM

    Kristy is MINE, as well. She is the greatest. :) I LOVE your hair and especially what your new haircut represents. Fabulous!

    ReplyDelete
  2. marymomJune 7, 2011 at 5:41 PM

    Yay! You girls all look just like starlets! Glad to see all is going well.

    ReplyDelete
  3. The Rapp FamilyJune 7, 2011 at 5:48 PM

    I love your new haircut!! Erin's hair looks awesome and has gotten so long!! What cute girls you all are!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Piano MomJune 7, 2011 at 5:50 PM

    Thank you so much everyone!

    ReplyDelete
  5. AmandaJune 7, 2011 at 9:22 PM

    Love you all. Your hair is darling!

    ReplyDelete
  6. TamBaumJune 7, 2011 at 9:31 PM

    Cute hair Jill!

    ReplyDelete
  7. MarieJune 7, 2011 at 9:59 PM

    Love the hair Jill! I've been growing mine too and have 10" to donate. Maybe I should make and appointment with Kristy for when we are there for the family reunion. If I wasn't so darn busy I would have loved to make a princess dress for Erin.

    ReplyDelete
  8. KristinJune 7, 2011 at 11:27 PM

    I LOVE IT!! It looks so good on you, and the hair you donated is beautiful! Oh, and we used to go online for hours before our trip and just look at everything we would be able to do. It is such a good memory for me, the build-up was so exciting!

    ReplyDelete
  9. brookeJune 8, 2011 at 9:50 AM

    Jill - you look beautiful, and radiant! Of course, so do your girls. Cecily is wise beyond her years. You should be very proud of yourself in raising such a considerate daughter. Oh, and I thought you might like to read this - about another young woman we both know who is also wise beyond her years: http://chooseaverb.blogspot.com/2011/06/erins-dream-necklace.html

    ReplyDelete
  10. BrianaJune 8, 2011 at 10:06 AM

    jill, i love it! you look so great! well - all of you girls looks beautiful, actually! but i really, really like the cut on you. it's so neat that you grew it out to donate - i bet it was a nice thing to hold on to along the way - the knowledge that you were growing your hair out for a good cause. way to go!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Piano MomJune 8, 2011 at 10:09 AM

    Brooke, thanks for sharing that!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Jodi MortensenJune 8, 2011 at 11:49 AM

    Beautiful, beautiful Girls... Your hair is darling Jill. You guys are amazing! So excited for you guys to go on your trip!!!!!

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)