Rhonda

In my family, breast cancer and women go together like, wine & cheese, or peanut & jam, it’s rare to have one without the other.
So, In August of 2008, when my MRI showed “suspicious” activity. My husband and I made the quick and very easy decision for me to have a prophylactic double mastectomy. Of course, we were sure this would make me bullet proof and I would never have to worry about breast cancer or any other cancer in my lifetime.

During the year of 2015, I just wasn’t feeling “right”. I knew I was out of shape and had put on a few (ok several) pounds, but my energy level wasn’t where I thought it should be. My tummy was no longer flat, I had developed quite a full tummy!!!! I assumed and even accepted that the reason for my lack of energy was my age, the reason for my weight gain was my age and that the swollen tummy could only be because of the extra pounds. I came to the conclusion that everything that I was experiencing was because I was getting old, I was out of shape and I was overweight. I was sad to think that this is what aging was all about.

But then on December 1, 2015 I was given the diagnosis of LYMPHOMA!!! What???? lymphoma? How could that be?? I’m just getting old, I’m just out of shape and over weight!!!! I sacrificed my beautiful breasts so I wouldn’t have to deal with cancer ever again. Nasty words were being used by my doctor, lymphoma, chemo treatments, rate of growth, success rates, side effects, cellular structure, blah blah blah!!!! So, I made up my own language that I use to accept my new life. “Party” day is a treatment day, “cocktails” are the chemo drugs, “bar tender” is my nurse that gives me the “cocktails” and “hang over” is the time between “parties”. This is an “adventure” that I’m going through, not a challenge.

I am grateful for the Grace of God and all His blessings. I am living in a time where lymphoma is well researched and the treatment is proved and positive. I’ve come to learn that modern medicine is magic. I am grateful for millions of donated dollars over the years that has allowed researchers to make discoveries of healing treatments and at the same time, minimizing the side effects of these medications.

My day with Turning Heads was a celebration of HEALING and of my life, not a reminder of what I am going through. The gals, Debbie, Stacy and Olga were very kind and totally understood the self conscious issues that come with having a bald head. I believe they are angels, hand picked by God, sent straight from heaven. The work they do is nothing short of miraculous and they DONATE all of their time……..just to make us bald people feel normal!!! Thank you so much Turning Heads!!!!

Photography by Stacy Jacob

Makeup by Olga Morales

Styling by Debbie Green