got hair?

Cruising down the road at 50 miles an hour, glancing out the driver side window, i witnessed a painting-- a painting from an artists brush swiped across the sky revealing marvelous shades of pink,orange, purple, green, and blue. That sunset spread across the horizon was the most beautiful sight I have ever seen in the whole of my existence . Gosh...this sunset was extreme....if ever i wanted a camera badly...this was it.

Then on the drive home from church, ksbj did a special on the hair prosthetics/donation organization, Locks of Love. It got its origins back in 1998. But it all began when the founder was diagnosed with a disorder as a result of Hepatitis C where you lose your hair constantly, it grows out, and then you lose it again. Fifteen years later, her daughter (who was 4 at the time) acquired the same disorder. It was then that she started locks of love. There are over 1200 children that hope to someday have hair again. The wigs are extremely kewl. They are hand made, and they take from 4-6 months to make. It requires about 140,000 strands of hair (approximates about four 10" locks). The lady on the air shared this really cute story about this girl who received prosthetic hair. The little girl was at a camp, and she got nominated for an award. She called the director of locks of love and asked her "guess what award I won? I won the Best Hair award!" The wigs are so well made that you cant really tell the kids have fake hair. However, the more hair the merrier, and the more smiling faces this world will see. Although the site says you need 10" of hair, you can also donate 6-9 inches. What they do with that hair is make men's wigs and doll hair.

Anyhow, I was really touched by the Locks of Love special they had. When i decided to grow my hair out to donate it, I was just thinking about providing someone with a head of hair, but it's so much more than that. It really brings joy into the hearts of children who wont ever have their own head of hair to comb or worry about the style for. It even improves their self-esteem and so many other mental and emotional issues. It made me feel so lucky to have the ability to grow my hair out, or even fuss about wanting to get it cut. The people who dont have hair to worry about have so many other issues to deal with. All of the discomforts that come with long hair seem SO worth it compared to the smile and gratitude a little child will experience.

And another story they shared on the air: There's a little girl who wakes up every morning, puts on her prosthetic wig, clasps her hands together, and thanks everyone who contributed to the hair she can now enjoy on her head.
So the next time you have 6+ inches of hair to cut, be remind of the kids and adults who really need the hair and consider donating it for the cause. =)

have a great week!

ps check out Locksoflove.org (they have some really neat before and after pictures of the kids with wigs)