The (bald) eagle has landed
In short — I’m bald! My hair started to come out 4 days ago so I had it all shaved off yesterday by a friend so that I wouldn’t have to watch it all come out strand by strand. But I am not alone! My dear husband Chris surprised me by shaving off his hair the day beforehand. One of the cool things is that his act made me feel better about losing my hair. Another cool thing is that taking it off was not as hard as I thought it would be. Several friends and my mom came over for the occasion. We prayed, made mimosas, played ABBA on the stereo, and then I let Lucy start chopping off hair with a pair of scissors (when else can a 5-year-old do whatever she wants with mommy’s hair?). She did a surprisingly good job. After that, my friend Vicki gave me a mohawk with her clippers, and then that went too. (pics below) I put on my wig and Lucy played beauty school for two hours with scarves and brushes. We actually laughed and had a good time.
I had already cried a number of tears about losing my hair so the act itself of taking it off was better than expected. Once again, how good of God to transform a difficult day into something that surpassed my expectations and was actually fun. I must admit that it’s pretty wild to see yourself bald, but I know I will get used to it. One wild thing — it sure gets cold without hair! Thankfully, I have some great hats, scarves and a wig so I will get by just fine. I’m sure there will be hard days with no hair but for now, it has been okay.
Another blessing is that I was able to receive my 2nd round of chemo today. Who knew that getting your chemo would be such happy news! In just three days, my white blood cell count shot up enough to allow another round of chemo. Once again, my dear friend Lori came with me. We had a great time talking and, before I knew it, we were ready to leave. I will indeed receive the Neulasta shot tomorrow that will cause my bone marrow to crank out red and white blood cells to keep me on my 3-week chemo treatment schedule. Our prayer requests for this chemo round are similar to the last time. If you wish, you can find them in the entry below. I am feeling pretty crummy right now so: Off to bed!
Love, Sara
Here are three pics for ya:
Sicks Pax 
on March 31, 2008 on 4:48 pm
And the man (or woman) whose hair is fallen off his head, he is bald; yet is he clean. Lev 13:40
I love the matching doo’s. Good man, Chris. But no wig for you, please.
Blessings to you all.
Dan
on March 31, 2008 on 5:05 pm
OH MY GOSH ! ! ! You have got to be one of the best looking bald couples I’ve ever seen! My husband Larry sympathizes, he agrees, it is cold with out hair. Sara, as always I check in to see how things are going and am floored by the grace you are showing throughout this whole thing. I always leave your blog inspired by by your faith, friends, family and joy that you all share. Who else could make losing all their hair to chemo into a party!? If I ever have cancer, can I come play at your house? 🙂 You continue to be in our prayers. God bless you all. —-Cheryl
on March 31, 2008 on 5:23 pm
You two are so goofy and that’s why we love you! Christopher, I can’t recognize you!!!!!!!!
Wish you could be here in Naples where it was HOT today and then your poor heads would not be cold.
We love you and continue to pray for you.
Mom
on March 31, 2008 on 6:23 pm
Love, love, love — you, the hairstyles, the whole shebang.
Still praying,
The Stonehomies
on March 31, 2008 on 9:12 pm
Dear Sarah — Now it’s just that much easier to see how beautiful you are.
Love you all–
Liz, Mike & fam
on March 31, 2008 on 9:32 pm
HI SARA– this is Raea from the good ole’ OHS orchestra days. Remember me? Yoo-Jung and i reconnected recently at an event at McLean Bible. She told me about your situation. i don’t think you should have shaved it all off. i think you should have done a mohawk and died it hot pink– in a retro 80s hommage to your sister Ashley– as she did back in the day! well, the Sinead look goes well on you, too! 🙂
best,
Raea
on March 31, 2008 on 10:18 pm
Sara,
I have to say that Christopher looks more changed than you do!!! It’s hard to pull off a bald head without some pretty turquoise earrings to accentuate one’s cheekbones. 🙂
Still in our thoughts and prayers all the time.
Love,
Jessica
on April 1, 2008 on 9:26 am
You two are precious. I showed Charlie the picture of the both of you, and she said, “Aw, they’re cute.” What a beautiful story you are telling.
~Jenni
on April 1, 2008 on 10:54 am
I had just told Tom about a week ago that I thought Chris would be the coolest husband in the world if he’d shave his head in solidarity with his wife. And, as usual, you didn’t disappoint, Chris. That was a truly wonderful thing to do! And Tom says that he could have told you it would be cold… 🙂
Glad the chemo stayed on schedule!
Love,
Liz
on April 1, 2008 on 11:11 am
I can see how it helps to have a totally wacked husband to go through this with!
You guys are amazing.
on April 1, 2008 on 12:29 pm
Thanks for sharing the hair story and pictures. You two are pretty amazing. (Lucy looked delighted to participate.) We’re still praying and sending love your way.
on April 1, 2008 on 1:14 pm
Fantastic! Women with clean-shaven heads rock! Lookin’ good, Sarafina.
Constantly praying
brian
on April 1, 2008 on 3:51 pm
Sara — you look great — you’re following the line of many pretty women who have done the (bald) eagle thing — Natalie Portman, Iman, et. al.
Chris — welcome to the club (yes, I’m bald) but, you look like Uncle Fester from the Adam’s Family (sorry man, Sara carries it off MUCH better than you!)
on April 1, 2008 on 3:54 pm
BTW — Terri Langdon — one of the agents in my office has raised $3,200 in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer (DC); she’s going for $4,000; even Jim Weichert gave to her walk.
on April 1, 2008 on 6:42 pm
You all rock!!!!!! I think that I will shave my head. Well, except for that mole!!! Chris, how I love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sara, you are having way too much fun. Wish I could have been there! What a wonderful way that you included Lucy!
You are one beautiful girl outside and in, with or without hair!! I am praying for you to feel the very best that you can for the next few days. Remember “the big guns” are the good ones!!!!!!
Kisses!!!!!!!
How I love you my dear Sara!!!!!!
on April 2, 2008 on 11:40 am
It looks like now is the time in your life that you can really do it up with earrings. I think it looks great! There ought to be a bald head club. God bless you as you are of good cheer in the midst of cancer.
Love and prayers, Leonor
John 16:33 NIV
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
on April 3, 2008 on 8:07 am
Sorry Chris – Sara still looks better than you do, though it was a nice try. 😉 Jessica and I will be praying for all of you all.
-S
on April 3, 2008 on 11:48 am
Sara and Chris,
We miss you guys! But we’re so thankful to be able to still stay connected through this amazing blog. You guys make a gorgeous bald headed couple! What an ADORABLE picture of you two. I loved seeing Lucy in the pictures–her expressions are priceless. What a great way to have her be a part of this journey with you. We’re constantly amazed at how your family walks through the deep waters with grace and humor.
Much love,
Rachel and Curt
on April 3, 2008 on 1:49 pm
Whoo hoo! More skin here than on Baywatch!
Ya both fabulous. : )
Chris, what a way to love. Sara, you’re pretty as ever and always.
Love to you both.
EV
on April 4, 2008 on 9:09 pm
Lookin’ good!! You are inspiring Rob to want to shave his head. 🙂
Sara, my mom is actually the one who told me you had done it this week. Klauses and Neffs are praying for you — as is our Home Fellowship group from church. We love you!!
on April 6, 2008 on 1:19 am
Sara and Chris – All kinds of applause for the both of you from way over here in China … and thanks for the object lesson is standing together through thick and thin – it was good for our hearts and great for our kids to see. Keep shining those bright lights for a dark world to see!
Women ai nimen!
Dan and Sara
on April 6, 2008 on 9:08 pm
Hey Sara,
Pedro and I are praying for you. It is a riot to see pictures of you. It makes me miss you and K-Group and Fourth etc.
Much Much love,
Christy and Pedro Govantes
on April 7, 2008 on 12:58 am
Hi beautiful girl– (and beautiful Chris)
You have been on my mind a lot (I guess that makes at least a thousand of us, huh? What a blessing to be part of such a warm, expressive family…)
I was listening to Rob Bell today (are you familiar with him? He pastors at Mars Hill Bible Church in Michigan… Hunter (who’s now 12) tells me “it’s easier for me to understand him than Piper”…so guess who Mom plays on the iPod when we’re traveling together? Anyway, he was speaking of Christian maturity and used this metaphor, “Maturity is when your convictions and beliefs drive the bus and tell your thoughts and feelings ‘you sit there’. I love it when I quote myself! ha ha” (now you see why Hunter likes him :-)). You immediately came to my mind…through the myriad thoughts and feelings that you are experiencing and have shared, what resonates is that you stand firm in your convictions and beliefs that God is Good and Sovereign and Reigns over all…but doesn’t shun or judge us when we experience sadness, disappointment, frustration, despair… Thanks for sharing so openly…
We love you and continue to pray for you and your little ones…
Sarah, for us all (Ivan, Hunter, Will, Ashley and Harrison)