Me, My Hair, and I
I want everyone to see me as I was, in my wig, feeling insecure, and not certain of my future. Sick, bald and wearing a wig was real for me. I really tried to embrace my cancer and look at it as a rebirth. Like my Bone Marrow Transplant (when my immune system was taken down to zero) my hair shared the same fate. For me, my bald head was ground zero. I tried to look at the bright side though. My guilty pleasures of being hairless meant being hairless everywhere. I liked having a body as smooth as a baby’s. I also loved my bald head in the shower. Showering bald just felt wonderful.
During my illness I tried to feel good about myself. I admit sometimes it was hard. But looking back at these photos I realize so much of it was in my head.
My advise to you is to go out and enjoy life. I know not everyday is a good cancer day – but in real life (not your cancer life) everyday is not good day, or a good hair day either. Go live!
Someone once told me there would be a Silver Lining after my cancer. I couldn’t image what she was talking about. But she was right. In some ways cancer was a blessing. I love that I started this service. I love the emails I get from people. I love helping people feel better about themselves – being able to go to their daughter’s wedding with pride, continue with school unafraid of classmates eyes, or go to work thinking about work and not their hair. I am thankful for my life ALL of it – -including my dark time with cancer because then came the light.
I want to share photos of me before my diagnosis, during my illness, and after it was over. I am you. I know your apprehensions of going through this and wearing a wig. Take a look at me and imagine yourself. You can do this!
Sheril Cohen, Survivor ;o)
My Own Hair (curly au natural & blown out)
2000 / This is what I looked like before I had cancer. I was always called "the girl with the hair." I told my doctor I would do anything but lose my trademark hair. She told me to chose my hair or my life. I wisely chose to lose my hair.2000 / This is what I looked...
Can’t Find Myself in that Wig!
Nov 2000 / Who am I? Hello is Sheril there? Wig shopping was awful. The attendant in one store told me that I would never get a wig as long as my hair nor would I be able to match my curl pattern. He told me I needed to cut my hair and to do it now. He tried to sell...
Wig wearing in NY Vineyard & Venice
2001 / This is me in the first wig I bought. I felt OK in it. It wasn't exactly what I wanted but I could deal with it. On one break in between chemo and surgery I went to Italy for a few days to LIVE and forget about being a cancer patient. I was afraid that everyone...
A Very Sick Sheril
June 2001 / I am pretty sick in this photo -- right in the thick of it. I had surgery, and a few months of chemo. A few days after this photo, I went into the hospital for my Bone Marrow Transplant. It's not the best "hair day" but I don't look that healthy either. I...
Me & Jordan: Twins in Bandannas
Oct 2001 / My nephew Jordan and I were very attached. He was "the thing" I was most afraid of losing. I wrote a children's book called Jordan's Big Day because I was afraid I was going to die and he would not remember me in years to come. He was only 3. He is the...
Back in my NYC life – My real hair once again
Jan & March 2004 /Chemo, Surgery, Bone Marrow Transplant, Radiation, and Immunology shots all ended in January 2002. It appeared that there was going to be life after cancer but was there going to be hair after cancer? As soon as my counts were normal I returned...
Happily Ev-hair After
Thoughts to share - Wearing a wig can be emotional. Wearing one can also be your secret salvation. With it you can look normal and be a person and not a cancer patient going to the grocery store or to a movie. You just have to get your psyche around wearing them. They...
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