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| Pamela Haschke Photo © Halos of Hope |
In the chemo parlor, there is a box marked "Free Hats - Halos for Hope." The hats come in all sizes; for kids, women, and men. Some are fuzzy, while others are silky and smooth. All are handmade by volunteers from around the country for chemotherapy patients that they may never meet. Each hat is really a halo - to cover a head temporarily bare of hair - and these halos are always free!
Pamela Haschke is the founding angel of Halos for Hope. In June 2004, she was diagnosed with Inflammatory Breast Cancer - IBC, and was plunged into nine months of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation. Haschke notes that, "The most apparent aspect of chemo is hair loss." For many women, losing hair as well as all or part of a breast can be very hard to bear. We are recognized by our hairstyles, our hair helps express our femininity. Without hair, we sometimes feel almost naked, and not at all like angels. Haschke remembers the feeling of hair loss vividly, "Your hair falls out in clumps and your scalp hurts, feeling like pinpricks where the hair follicles used to be. It's not possible to perform a simple an act like running your fingers through your hair without strands becoming entwined. As the chemotherapy eradicates the cancer cells within your body, you're recovering internally while the pain on your scalp makes you want to cry." That experience inspired Haschke to start her project called Halos of Hope.
If you knit, crochet, sew, or have some money to spare, you can donate those to Haschke's Halos. Donated hats are collected and then shipped out to patients and clinics as they have need. Haschke and her volunteers visit fiber arts fairs, team up with yarn shops, provide free patterns, and educate crafters and patients alike about this heavenly way to offer support for cancer patients.
I can remember being given sleep caps and small pillows to to help me get through treatment. One day as I reported for chemo, I noticed a box by the door. It held hats, caps and bandannas, free for the taking. I chose a cheerful one in bright southwestern colors - I'm from Texas - and wore it around the house during hot summer weather. I'll never know who donated my new chapeau, but I was happy to get it. Nowdays, when I knit, I make chemo caps to donate. I think some of those are going to go to Halos for Hope!
I’m a survivor and know how important those head-coverings are. I would suggest Lion Brand’s Micospun as a good yarn to use. It’s slightly “slick” which means it doesn’t get stuck on the wearer’s head.
What great work you’re doing, Pam! Hair loss is indeed a big issue for many going through chemo and to have special, hand-made head coverings let’s you know someone cares what you’re dealing with. Thanks for sharing about your work and mentioning inflammatory breast cancer…people need to know “You don’t have to have a lump to have breast cancer!”
I was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer on Sept.2,2010. I am frightened.
Patty – do not be frightened.
You will be ok – be brave, be strong, and always have hope.
Everything will be Ok