To Read Tami's Story from the Beginning

Just CLICK HERE. Her blog begins on March 12, 2009 with a post titled "Tami's Myelodysplasia Diagnosis." Then at the bottom of each post, click on the words "Newer Post" located just below the comments section on each page.


Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Pantene Beautiful Lengths Hair Donation

Stacie here. I'm Tami's cousin who has been writing this blog on her behalf since her diagnosis in 2009.

Yesterday my awesome hair stylist and good friend Armando Sarabia (of Get Your Do Up) chopped off my hair!

I had decided at the beginning of the month that it was time to donate the hair I'd been growing the past several years and chose to donate to Pantene Beautiful Lengths. I chose Pantene (thanks to my friend Loretta for sending me a New York Times news article about them) because they make free wigs for women who are cancer patients. Needless to say, Tami's experience made the process more meaningful than the last time I did this.

As Armando was CUTTING MY HAIR OFF I couldn't help but notice, peeking between my fingers in the mirror, that he was looking at the camera and not my hair! *Gulp* I pointed out that looking at my hair might be a better course of action but he just laughed and assured me he is a professional and didn't need to look. Well, he was right. He cut my hair beautifully!

This is a close up of my reflection in the mirror from the picture above. All I could think was "EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!"

Mission accomplished! The first time I did this in 2003 I sent Locks of Love 17" of hair. This time I'm sending an 18" ponytail to Pantene Beautiful Lengths.

A quick shampoo and Armando styled my hair cutting it all one length.

Triumphant. Both Armando and my hubby had been bugging me to cut my hair for the past two years. Hubby didn't want me to go quite this short but I figured it's only hair and will grow back.

And to top if off I ordered new business cards that reflect my new hair do!

Only a few people knew I was cutting my hair. Last night my hubby and I were having dinner with a large group of friends and I was meeting him at the restaurant as I attended a business networking event preceding dinner. It was hilarious to walk in with my new look. He was shocked. I thought he would be super happy since he'd wanted me to cut my hair for so long, instead he was super stunned. By the end of the night he was loving the new do, but it took a while for him to decide if he liked it or not.

Taaa Daaa! My friend Kathleen took this photo of the front of me at the networking event with her iPhone.

And here's another pic with my friend Carl Mindling.

If you want to grow your hair out to donate, CLICK HERE to view a past post about how I grew my hair so long in the first place. To be honest you might start to feel a bit like a sheep, growing its wool out to be shorn, but when you send in that ponytail knowing you're helping a person in need, it's so worth it.

Update: Jimmie Johnson Wins the Pepsi Refresh Challenge!


Thanks to everyone who voted for NASCAR's Jimmie Johnson in the Pepsi Refresh Project. Thanks to you his idea to create pediatric transplant grants for children who need stem cell and bone marrow transplants was voted #1. This means the "Be the Match (aka the National Marrow Donor Program) will receive $100,000 from the Pepsi Refresh Project to help children in need.

Friday, June 18, 2010

Please Vote to Support Kids Undergoing Marrow Transplants

NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson has a dream to provide financial relief for kids undergoing bone marrow transplants through the Be The Match Foundation. Your vote will decide if his idea is funded by Pepsi Refresh. No registration needed. Just click on the vote button under Jimmie's picture. That's him to the left.

Thanks for any help!

CLICK HERE to vote online