Visiting a cancer hospital, a day to remember
The first time any of you heard about cancer, probably at a young age, it would not have sounded like a serious issue. You may have thought; that it is just another disease that we humans get by. It’s only when you realize how serious the issue is that you get this momentary fear that can’t be explained. Most people would have felt the same way.
As the saying goes, ignorance is bliss. As a matter of fact, it is in such cases. But for how long? As a last resort, fighting head-on and hoping for the best is the only solution. It is all that could be done.
A CASUAL HOSPITAL VISIT, TURNED MEMORABLE
Have you ever come across or visited the cancer ward in a hospital? The first time you come across this ward and see those people with their shaved heads, it affects you in a way you never imagined. It will definitely not be momentary. Think about it. Here people are worried about hair fall caused due to stress or an unhealthy diet but on the other end, there are people who have to shave off their hair knowingly in order to just stay alive. Of course, no one can be blamed. It is just the reality of life. The sad part of it is, that you got to live with it.
Even all this is fine because the worst part is when you see all those Artificial Breast Prostheses kept on display before the Cancer center. One may automatically start thinking about all the worst-case scenarios of getting affected with cancer, getting their hair shaved off, undergoing chemotherapy, and getting artificial breast implantation and the list goes on, getting far worse than it probably is. That’s when you pray so badly to God, not to be put in any of these situations.
But the real nightmare is when you see someone, you know go through all this, something stirs inside you and you so badly want to do something about it, only to realize at last that your hands are tied and there is literally nothing that you can do. Just imagine how the person who goes through this nightmare would feel. Just terrible and they would constantly be fighting the thought; “Why me? What have I done so badly in my life to deserve this?” One can only try to imagine the fear, hopelessness, and anger they would feel. It is truly heartbreaking.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
There is not much that you can do other than support the person suffering from cancer. Moral support may not be the best but at least it’s something if you are close to the person. If you can give some hope and strength to that person and be there while they fight the greatest battle of their life, it surely counts as something. Right? And remember, “Treat them as a person with an illness, not as an ill person”.
And another conscious choice that you can make, if you have a strong desire to help people who are suffering from the disease, is to donate your hair. Yeah, you heard it right. You can choose to donate your hair. By that, it doesn’t mean you have to shave off your hair fully. No, you can just chop off a few inches of your hair and even donate them. There are some organizations and programs that can help turn your locks into a wig for people with cancer. A wig can give self-confidence, strength, and hope to someone struggling with the emotional challenges of hair loss.
Since it’s the bare minimum a person can do to support, anyone can donate their hair including Children. The only thing you have to keep in mind is that there is a minimum length of hair that you have to cut to make the donation. Usually, the length ranges from 8 inches to 14 inches. Some organizations don’t accept hair that’s been colored, permed, highlighted, bleached, or dreadlocked. Whereas, some of them accept gray hair or hair with a certain percentage of gray in it, while others don’t accept it at all.
Here are some simple steps you have to follow to donate your hair.
Choose to make the kindest cut of all.
Places in India where you can donate your hair:
#1 Hair Crown; Theni, TamilNadu
You can check their website or call on +91-94861 21062.
#2 Cope With Cancer; Mumbai, Maharashtra
You can reach out to this organization via their website or call them at 022- 49701285.
#3 Sargakshetra Cultural Centre; Kottayam, Kerala
This organization can be reached via their website, or you could e-mail them at sargakshetra@gmail.com.
#4 For You Trust; Kannur, Kerala
You can get more details about this from their website or contact them at +91-9072423704.
Have ever been a part of this journey? Will you choose to make the kindest cut of all? If yes, why wait? Just go for it! And share your thoughts with us.
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