Cancer is an insidious beast. When someone receives a cancer diagnosis, all the words of support seem empty. When words fail to convey the message, actions can scream your support. Following her husband’s cancer diagnosis, Lauren Welnicki set about to shave his head. She began with a very powerful message before touching his head with the clippers.
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Lauren lives and breathes hair. It is her livelihood. The comment under her post says it all: “Hair is my art, my passion, and my way of making others feel beautiful, confident, and seen. It’s a reflection of who we are, how we feel, and how we present ourselves to the world. But today, I’m choosing to let go of it all, not because hair doesn’t matter, but because some things matter so much more.”
Surprising Her Husband
Before taking the clippers to her husband, she turned them on herself. You can hear him saying, “No. No, no, no.” The expression on his face changes as she continues, and it is truly priceless. Right then, he knew that his wife would stand with him through the ordeal. She made a second and third swipe, removing swaths of her long hair. At one point, you see him mouth the word, “Why?”
Eventually, she was seated in the chair as her husband helped neaten her shave. After she was a fuzzy cue ball, he sat back down, and she shaved his head. The couple hugs frequently throughout this moment of solidarity.
Lauren leaves us with some final words: “This act isn’t just about hair — it’s about standing with him in his fight, showing him that we are in this together, every step of the way.” Summing up her feelings on the importance of hair, she adds, “Yes, hair is important, and it will always be a part of who I am — but in this moment, it’s just hair. What truly matters is the bond we share, the fight we fight, and the love that carries us through.”
Understanding Why Cancer Patients Shave Their Head
Radiation and chemotherapy cause cancer patients to lose their hair. Waking up daily to find tufts of hair on your pillow can be distressing. Many cancer patients shave their heads to avoid watching hair fall out in clumps. It is often recommended as a way to fight depression during treatment.
The action of shaving your head in solidarity with a cancer patient is not new. I have done it every year since 2009 to support all women with hair loss. Parents and children show solidarity with each other. A bride and groom shaved at their reception in solidarity with her mother. Another bride shaved for her new husband. Groups continue to shave in solidarity, and the tradition never gets old.
Watching the pure love and depth of caring as Lauren shaves her head for her husband is inspiring. No words are necessary. Her actions are shouting that he will not travel this road alone. That gift is more impressive than any words can convey.
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