We arrived at the Hair Cuttery in Hagerstown a few minutes before Jody’s appointment. Jody was a little nervous and anxious about the whole hair cut thing. Waiting gave us a chance to talk and catch up. It was not a good week for Jody as the doctors found nodes on her thyroid and both lungs. She has to go back for more CT tests next week. Even with the new found nodes, Jody is doing well with her spirit and attitude. During our conversation we were approached by Sally. She was ready for Jody.

I just have to say that Sally was extremely pleasant and her demeanour almost immediately put Jody at ease. She was genuinely interested in Jody and she kept an ongoing dialogue with Jody during the whole process. After cutting Jody’s hair, she took her in the back for a quick shampoo and conditioning. They then came back to the chair for the wig fitting. Sally and Jody talked wigs for a bit and then Sally put Jody’s wig on, and styled it. It was great watching her work, and Jody was extremely happy with how smoothly the whole experience went.

I am assembling a larger gallery of the whole haircut, but I wanted to share some of the key shots.

The other girls in the shop were pretty amazing as well. They set up a bunch of pink balloons at Jody’s station. It was a really nice touch.

It all started back in November with an itch. While scratching the itch, she found a lump under her left breast. Although no one in her family had ever had any form of cancer, she felt it was best to get it checked out. She went to the doctor and the battery of exams began. The findings were definite, she had breast cancer.

The doctors wanted to move quickly so they scheduled a lumpectomy. During the procedure the doctors were surprised as they found a massive hematoma and they decided to have the exams reviewed again.  When they contacted the office responsible for the CT Scan, they lucked out and got the same person who performed the scan. They explained that they had been trying to reach the doctors because the scan showed that there was more cancer than originally thought; and one month after having a lumpectomy, she found herself having a masectomy.

Today she has no hormone receptors, four out of eleven lymph nodes are cancerous, and she finds herself preparing for chemotherapy. She has Stage IIIA Breast Cancer. Her name is Jody and this is her story. It is going to be my pleasure to spend the next year with Jody, documenting her story through photography.

It has been a hard year and a half for her. She lost her job, lost her home, lost her dog, and found out that she has cancer. She is nervous, scared and anxious. But more importantly she feels alone. Her feelings are that cancer is a lonely disease. Nobody that she talks to can truly relate. Comments like, “I know someone who died from that” or “Sorry to hear that. It will be okay” are all she hears. She doesn’t wish this feeling of solitude on any one so she has decided to share her story. Her hope, and mine, is that others will find comfort in seeing her story unfold.

I wanted to start a photography business that operated as a non-profit, providing photographic services to charitable organizations and the individuals who benefit from them. I wanted to change the way people thought about cancer, childhood disease, AIDS, and mental illness. I wanted to document women living with breast cancer and children with terminal illnesses enjoying their time with family and love ones. I wanted to tell stories of hope and encouragement through the use of photos. I wanted to put these stories into a self published book. I wanted to remove the negative connotations that often come up in the everyday discussion about these topics. . I wanted to change the way people think. I wanted to do all these things and more. Instead I did nothing because of fear. Fear of success.

I mean what if I accomplished my goal, and people responded positively to my work. That would be huge. It would put a tremendous amount of pressure on my shoulders. I would be responsible for performing up to the standards that I had set. I would probably have to take on a staff. I would be responsible for them. I would be responsible for my family. I would be responsible.

Then I realized that it is not I, but Him.

God has given us all a purpose in life. I have often wondered, “What is my purpose?” It took time but now I see that this is a part of that purpose — if not my sole purpose. These thoughts and dreams are not mine, they are the work of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ; and lately I have realized that the idea of touching others in such a profound way truly fills my heart with joy and delight. I truly cannot imagine living any other way.

I have been hesitant to act because of fear. I will be hesitant no more because of faith. I have faith that this idea — this dream — would not exist in my heart for four years were it not for Christ. I put my faith in Him, so that we will see this dream come true.

Please contact me to find out more about my dream.