Sugar Syrup

Today was exciting – it was wig day!

The fitting session was at ‘Big C‘ which is right next door to the Colney centre where the oncology and chemo appointments happen at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital where I’m being treated (hmmm, treated, that sounds like it should be something much more fun than the reality…)  Big C is Norfolk’s cancer charity since 1980.  They provide loads of support for cancer patients in a non-clinical environment.  They have a band of volunteers who welcome all-comers with tea, biscuits and a warm smile.  Complementary therapy sessions and various workshops and seminars are also held there. In short, they are amazing 🙂

Here’s who was there today!

Bear with me for a moment, I’m going to take you back a bit.

When the consultant first mentioned cancer, my natural reaction was, if we have to deal with this, how we could turn this into an adventure and find the positive experiences to take from it?…. whatever little bit of fun can be found in this has to be exploited.  If I’m going to lose my hair, I’ll get to try out some different styles and colours… I’m going to have a pink wig!

When I met the oncologist and she told me that they would organise a free wig for me I told her I’d like a pink one.  She said brilliant!  When I went into Big C to meet some of the team the response was a little different…

Me: Yes, I have my appointment for the wig fitting, I’d like to have a pink one.
Anne: Oh, I’m not sure if Jean does pink wigs; Bridget, does Jean do pink wigs?
Bridget: Oh, I’m not sure
Anne: She usually trys to match the wig to your current style
Me: Oh, I just thought it would be fun to try something different.

I began to think maybe I’d got this wrong.  Maybe you can’t ‘make the most of’ something like cancer.  Maybe this really is the point at which you have to stop trying to make this into something that could be fun in any way shape or form.

And then I thought; there is no way I can give up on this or give in to this or approach this any differently from the way I have ever approached anything before and I will have a PINK wig.

Right, back to today

I met with Jean from Frobishers in a private room to talk about wigs and get my head measured.  Phil and I had spent quite a lot of time surfing wig shops on line so we had an idea of what is available and he had come with me to help me choose.  However, while we were having our coffee he got a better offer which I’ll write about another day 🙂

Jean was great.  When I went in she looked at my hair and said “oh, I think we can do something like that” with a lovely warm smile.  I said “I’d really like a pink one” and braced myself for the response.
“Ooh that’s great! We have a lovely bob, I don’t have one with me but I do have a picture, let me find it!”
Oh my goodness – what a relief – I must have been smiling like a Cheshire cat!!

So here is Sugar!

Just to learn how to put a wig on I tried Shannon!

Sugar will be ready for me in a couple of weeks, hopefully before I need her but I did buy a head scarf just in case!!

Talk to you again soon

Lots of love Mand xxx