EBeauty - the beauty of giving by L. A. Keller
I'm being
selfish, or maybe it's nepotism, but I couldn't discuss amazing charities
without including EBeauty. This non-profit was established by my sister-in-law
Carolyn Callahan Keller when my younger sister Laura was diagnosed with breast
cancer. Carolyn and I are both survivors and when my brother, Mark and
Carolyn asked what they could to to help Laura I told them she needed a
wig.
The day my oncologist told me I had to undergo
chemotherapy I got pulled over for a speeding ticket. I was speeding and
deserved the ticket but the poor officer didn't expect me to burst into
uncontrollable sobs. Cancer is scary - you are battling for your life and
then you add chemotherapy into the mix and everything gets worse. Do the
chemo and know that it is killing all of the cells in your body, or take the
risk that you will survive without it.
I knew I would lose my hair and it bothered
me. Of course, initially it's the vanity. I didn't want to lose my long
curly locks but I wanted to live longer. So I cut my hair short and then,
when it started coming out in clumps, I had it shaved. I cannot find the
words to describe how it made me feel to look in the mirror and see a sick
woman - someone who was doing everything to kill the cancer but looked like I
wasn't going to succeed.
I was fortunate that my insurance paid for wigs.
I never left my house without a wig. It was hot and scratchy and miserable but
people didn't know I was fighting cancer. I didn't want people to look at me
and feel sorry for me. I didn't want to talk about my cancer - it was a
personal war I fought mostly alone. Ultimately having a wig wasn't about vanity
at all. It was about me believing that I would get better. That is what EBeauty
provides - a way for a woman who can't afford a wig, or whose insurance won't
cover a wig, to feel healthy. A way for someone to see the light at the
end of the journey and believe she will make it.
EBeauty's mission statement is:
"EBeauty’s mission is to
enhance and strengthen the education, charitable and community support network
for women undergoing cancer treatments. EBeauty works to improve the quality of
life of women undergoing chemotherapy treatments through the implementation of
its Wig Exchange Program and Hospital Partnership Program. Our primary goal is
to provide all women, regardless of economic status or geographic location,
access to wigs."
In the year's since EBeauty
was started, the organization has provided wigs to thousands of women all over
the United States. This year Carolyn was nominated for L'Oreal's Women of Worth
as a woman who has gone above and beyond to empower others. Only ten women
a year are nominated for this great honor.
Wigs are donated and professionally cleaned and styled.
Anyone in need can request a wig on EBeauty’s website. If you would like to
make a donation or contribute a wig, please go to the website.
Happy Trails,
Leslie
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