For many, hair is one of the most beautiful and important parts of personal identity. Hair helps everyone express parts of their personality and cultural upbringing. It can even connect people to precious memories, like a first haircut as a child, or your mother brushing your hair each morning before school.
Hair is an incredibly special part of who we are, and so when hair starts to fall out from chemotherapy and other treatments, it feels like a loss. For those experiencing cancer-related hair loss, know that these feelings of sadness are valid. Losing your hair is a loss, and on top of everything else you’re going through, it’s okay to feel overwhelmed.
Cancer-related hair loss is a significant life change, but you are not alone. The Shelly Sachs Wig Room is here to help you feel like yourself again.
We, the Shelly Sachs Foundation, GYN Cancers Alliance and Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks goal in forming this partnership is to ensure every woman no matter type of cancer can receive quality services. We feel strongly that we need to be supporting as many women as possible during their cancer journey. GYN Cancers Alliance has assisted in countless wig fittings to know what a trauma it is for these women to lose their hair It truly isn’t “JUST hair”, it is so much more. We hope to lessen the blow of cancer. Hair loss during treatment is often the first question a cancer patient will ask after diagnosis. We know the need is there, we know this work is important, and this partnership between the Shelly Sachs Foundation, GYN Cancers Alliance and Breast cancer Foundation of the Ozarks will serve more women.
GYN Cancers Alliance will assist with providing a free wig, wig stand, care instructions, and a special gift bag for each individual to pamper themselves.
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Spoken at Dinner on the Diamond, September 18th, by Debbie Kent-Smith.
"I have never stood in front of a large group like this, and I must tell you I am petrified.
But I would like to share my heart with you for a few moments. I am first a 71-year-old widow, mother, grandmother, and I am a recipient of the Shelly Sachs Foundation.
It has been 6 1/2 almost 7 years ago that I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. After speaking with my doctor and my son, I went home that evening, and I laid across the bed, and I spoke to God, and I said ‘I don’t think I can do this’, and without hesitation these words came to me ‘You don’t have to. I’ll do it for you.’
And, since that time when I felt like I didn’t know how to take the next steps or which way to turn someone I call my angels has come into my life and helped me to take that next step.
In the book of Exodus there is a story of a great warrior and leader by the name of Moses. During one of his greatest battles, even Moses became exhausted. The warriors had to find a place for him to rest. They found a rock for him to sit on, and with one on each side they held up his arms so that he could continue his battle and win for God.
And I say that to say, you cannot fight the greatest battle of your life without help from someone reaching out to you. Knowing you might fall and knowing that someone has your back.
I came across the Shelly Sachs Foundation about a year ago and they have had my back more than once. Even when I had emergency oral surgery, they reached out and they took care of that for me.
So tonight, I would like to say thank you first to a very special lady whom I believe her spirit is with us here tonight, and that is Shelly Sachs.. I would like to say thank you to a woman who looked beyond her own journey into the struggles and the heartache of others who are going through cancer.
I would also like to say thank you to the Sachs Family for taking the dream of a wife and a mother and seeing that her legacy will live on through the Shelly Sachs Foundation.
And, last but not least, I would like to thank you for being here tonight. You didn’t have to be here, but you chose to be here to be a part of not only watching this Foundation grow but thrive in this community so that others going through cancer will know that someone has their back.
Thank you for being here. God bless you, and God bless you Shelly Sachs Foundation."
Debbie Kent-Smith (Grant recipient, 10-18-21 Dinner on the Diamond)