Okay, so I did it! Five months after having a craniotomy, I finally went to get my hair done. I explained to the girl who always use to do my hair what happened, with a shocked looked, she said "don't worry, we'll take care of you" and then she had someone wash my hair and comb through my hair and color it. As creepy as it felt at times, I survived!
The funny thing is God has a
way of telling you there is always someone much worse
than you. Seated next to me in the hair dryer machine, was a lady who
was blind and had just been in a car accident recently and could not see
or walk properly. She asked me for help in getting up and then I
realized... Am I lucky! And here I am, before during and after!
Okay, today is THE day that I am finally
letting someone "do my hair since I had my brain surgery!" I am long overdue. Just the thought of someone shampooing and combing
through my hair with all the bumps and grooves is giving me the "jeebie
geebies," but I have to do this. It has been 5 months (post-op.) It is
time! Only my Meningioma Mommas can relate to this anxiety!
I will
keep you posted on how it goes! Hopefully, no more hats or bandanas!
Here is a great site for those of you that have survived a meningioma. You can purchase t-shirts for meningioma awareness, as well as new bracelets!
Check it out:
http://www.meningiomamommas.org/mommas-merchandise
So it has been two months since my craniotomy and I can honestly say I have come a long way both physically and emotionally! I am about to celebrate my birthday at the end of this month and I am eternally gratefully to G-d, the Universe, whoever is in charge! Even though I am not currently working, I am happy in having the time and health to have taken up my "mom duties" again! Somehow, I had lapsed in this department. Not only was I working full-time, an hour away, somehow, I had grown apathetic and aloof. I don't know if I can blame it on my brain tumor but having survived one, I can definitely say, changed my life's perspective.
It is okay if I have to be in long car lines two times a day times two kids and it is okay if I have to go to the grocery store three times a week or pick up every shoe thrown around the house. I can appreciate those priceless moments, when my son tells me "Mommy, you are the best mom ever," when I know I am not. I recognized that we don't have "forever." I mean, I knew this as I experienced the death of my mom, many years ago but somehow, when you go through a life-altering experience, it hits home in a way that nothing else does.
I am also grateful to have found a group online of women (and some men) https://www.facebook.com/groups/56743583446/ to ask questions when in doubt. Things I wonder like, how long is my head going to feel numb? And what others reactions were to steroids. P.S. I can honestly say that coming off of steroids was one of the worst experiences!
All in all, I realized that I was extremely lucky in having had a Grade 1 tumor (benign.) I remember standing in front of the mirror and seeing my head open (as my incision re-opened during a setback) and crying, not because of my scar, but because I imagined the heartache my mom and so many others went through having the knowledge that they would die. As a mother now, I understand the absolute grief of the thought of leaving your family behind. There are thousands of people each day who are faced with death, whether it be cancer or a tumor etc.. and I, well, I am the lucky one. And so are you, if you are reading this. You have another day in your life to make a difference, to fight, to be a warrior. Take it!
Somehow, I have started to do so much research into the removal of my meningioma and the after-effects, that I am making myself crazy! (More so than usual!) I joined a group on a social network called, "Meningioma Mommas" and it is has been very helpful but today, I read an article someone posted and "Yikes!" It is some pretty scary stuff. I guess I should know better than to keep reading and researching but....
Here is the article. Knowing I have a titanium plate in my head is really not too comforting now! NOt that I was so comfortable with it before but when you start reading, I start wondering, am I really electro-magnetic sensitive now?
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/08/25/heavy-metal-electromagnetic-fields.aspx
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