Coping and caring
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For some women, hair loss during chemotherapy only adds to the devastation of a diagnosis of cancer.
To make matters worse, most insurance companies do not cover wigs, according to Bonny Diver-Hall, a breast cancer survivor and founder of a nonprofit organization called Hair Peace.
Hair Peace provides women being treated for cancer with $100 toward the purchase of a wig. Two years ago, Mrs. Diver-Hall, of Avalon, discovered that she had breast cancer.
"I had mammograms every year once I turned 40 and they never showed anything. Then I fell off my horse and broke my shoulder blade," she explained, "When I was lying on the couch, feeling my bruises, I found a lump."
During the treatment of her cancer, Mrs. Diver-Hall, 46, a local radio personality, became an advocate for self-exams for women and cancer awareness.
"People would hear me on the air and would contact me to come and talk to their groups. That is when my doctor told me I should help local women."
Mrs. Diver-Hall credits her faith with helping her to fight cancer, so she wanted to have a faith-based organization. Referrals to Mrs. Diver-Hall come through friends, fellow church members, doctors and those who see brochures that she has placed at various locations. Hair Peace is working now with 15 women, Mrs. Diver-Hall said, and she received another referral last week.
She also helps the women in other ways. "Many need other things. Women like to have control of their life and they loose control with cancer. We try to give them some normalcy," she said.
Assistance can come in the form of meals provided by her church -- Ingomar United Methodist -- prayer chains, and just listening. "Some of these women just want someone else to talk to who has been in the same situation," she said.
Laurie McCoy, of Crescent, is a breast cancer survivor who lost her hair after chemotherapy.
"I wasn't going to get a wig but Bonny talked me into it," she said. Ms. McCoy is still receiving the treatments. "It hasn't been easy. The chemo is really draining but Bonny has been so wonderful," Mrs. McCoy said.
"She has given me courage and has helped in sharing her experience with me. I wouldn't wish this on anyone and she has helped me though it."
Mrs. Diver-Hall had radiation therapy instead of chemotherapy, so she didn't lose her hair during her own battle with cancer.
Some may not need the money but they want the support she provides. "They will tell me to use the money for someone else, but they still need other things," she said.
One of those other things may be a prayer quilt made by members of her church. The threads on the corners of the prayer quilts are left untied, so as people pass a quilt at the church, they san say a prayer and tie a thread.
The quilts are given to the women to wear over their laps during chemotherapy. "They can look at the quilt and know that someone has tied every one of those knots and prayed for them. Someone they don't even know," said Mrs. Diver-Hall.
Hair Peace held its first fund-raiser, a jazz concert, in October. "Other than that, I'm getting donors to write checks," she said.
A second fund-raiser will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday in the Sweetwater Center for the Arts, 200 Broadway Street, Sewickley. It will feature local celebrities cooking their favorite recipes, wine tasting, and live music.
Tickets are $40 and may be reserved by contacting the Ingomar United Methodist Church at 412-364-3613 or e-mail Mrs. Diver-Hall at bdiver1@verizon.net.
First Published February 23, 2006 12:00 am
