The Feel-Good Friday: A young man grows his hair to make a wig for his mom

It is difficult to watch family members and friends go through chemotherapy and radiation. This story about a son giving a gift to his mom who had lost her entire hair, is worthy of Feel-Good Friday.

From WISTV:

Matt Shaha, 27, grew out his hair for two years to donate and make it into a wig for his mom who was undergoing radiation treatments.

Melanie Shaha was diagnosed with a benign tumor on her pituitary gland in 2003.

” Your pituitary, which is located in the center of your skull, sends signals for your body to function properly,” she explained to Arizona’s Family . It’s benign, not cancerous, but the tumor is in the wrong spot. It can destroy important things, and cause lots of problems. .”

The pituitary gland measures about half the height of a pea. It is located behind the bridge in the nose . It doesn’t take up too much space. However, a tumor can cause hormonal or physiological trauma to the body, Melanie Shaha says.

She underwent two surgeries to remove the tumor between 2003 and 2006, but it returned in 2017 and doctors recommended radiation treatments.

Melanie Shaha lost her entire hair, eyebrows and eyelashes three months later. Her hair wouldn’t grow back after the doctor said that radiation had killed her pituitary.

” I don’t mind getting sick but I like looking sick,” she stated.

Matt was a graduate of college, and was living at home with his family when he got the inspiration to cut his hair.

” I was having dinner with my parents when someone commented that my hair was getting too long. I laughed and said, “Maybe I will just keep growing my hair for one week.” He said, “Why not?”

It is an incredible boost in confidence, morale and outlook to give a cranial prothetic, as wigs are for cancer patients, or even make-up or makeup to someone who has been through the difficult chemotherapy. To navigate these waters requires incredible courage, strength and bravery. A physical awakening not only boosts self-esteem but also lifts spirits.

I loved Matt Shaha’s answer to the question of why he did it.

“She gave it to me, so it was a no brainer to give it back.”

After two years and a foot-length of hair, Matt cut it to send to a company called Compassionate Creations to design and create a wig, especially for his mom.

” I didn’t expect it to become as emotionally charged as it did. The project started as something I did with my mom. But once the hair got long enough, it became a real thing.

” I struggled to keep it all together but it has been a blessing. It was so much more than I expected .”

A precious gift from your precious son. Melanie Shaha deserves to be proud.