About twenty years ago I was interrupted while cutting my sons’ hair out on our patio. Young David couldn’t resist the temporarily abandoned hair clippers. Fortunately another child stopped him before going too far, but it took only a moment and the damage had been done. This photo captured the result, but the story doesn’t end there.

We all laugh now, and truth be told, we all laughed then… but it was pretty awful. I had to be somewhere and assumed that when I got home I would give him a crew cut so that it would eventually grow out together. A couple hours passed and as I returned home several children came running outside in a panic. ”Mom, come quick!! Dad is shaving David’s head!! We told him not to but he keeps doing it!”

Mark had come home, seen the damage and dealt with it before I had the chance. The head was shaved to the scalp and I was mostly displeased that I had not been consulted… but whatever, it was essentially the same effect. However – there was a unexpected result. David remained the same playful child, but with that shaved head I immediately began to treat him tenderly. It seemed as though that little bald head told my subconscious that here was a little cancer child that needed extra care.

At this time in my life I had never dreamed that any of my children would one day have cancer and actually lose their hair at all. It was just a sort of knee-jerk reaction. I knew it was silly but I couldn’t help it. Something about that little bald head….

Speaking of little bald heads… I have a new bald head at my house that needs to be treated with tenderness. Because Mark was scheduled to speak in church on the 10th and then had a series of trainings to administer that week – he was treating his own hair very tenderly. The hair was coming out on its own, but he wasn’t quite ready for that – so he managed to gently shampoo and train it for several days. Though the thinning was perceptible – it actually helped him to finally look his age. Ha ha. 

Following his company Christmas party on Wednesday he could no longer stand it and he asked for help to comb it all out. Fortunately Kimberly is home from college and she volunteered. Somehow I just couldn’t stand to do it. Kimberly was young when she helped comb out Greg’s chemotherapy-killed hair and at that time she thought it was fun, so I guess she has happy memories. Mark wrapped in a blanket to withstand the cold night air – then he went outside hairy and came back bald. 

Aside from being much colder than ever before – he is loving it. Everyone tells him he looks good and the joy of not caring for hair seems to appeal to him. He is thinking of keeping it shaved indefinitely. I have other ideas….

Update – We stayed in SLC last night so that Mark could have a port inserted this morning. That procedure is occurring right now. His chemo infusion will begin on Tuesday. The doctor wants the dosage to be increased and ordered a five day infusion. The insurance company will allow only three days – so we are keeping the higher five day dose but doing it in three days. Fingers crossed that it won’t be too intense, but the shorter stay will help us be home before Christmas Eve so that is good.

This past week has been great. Mark has felt great – though he is limited by the oxygen tubing and a very tired body, he claimed to feel quite normal. Any exertion would remind him that he is not normal, but feeling good made all the difference. We had a very positive, hopeful week.

I also forgot to share a story that relates to my last post, “Count It All Joy.” A couple weeks ago a friend asked Mark how he was doing. ”I’ve been better,” was his reply. 

Our friend challenged him, “Are you feeling closer to the Lord than you have ever before in your life?”

“Yes.” Mark assured him.

“Well then, you are having the best days that you have ever experienced.”

Something to think about today…. and count it all joy….