Reducing hair loss

1 Corinthians 11:15
But that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering.

I was reading a couple of blogs from people going through similar health situations and suffering from hair loss. I have been there and felt it may be useful if I shared some of my loss prevention tips.

I started noticing my hair breaking and thinning but assumed it was dry and I probably just have split ends. This had been going on for several months until my hairdresser told me that my hair was falling out from the roots and I don't have split ends. To my horror, I had some bald patches. I was not sure if the hair loss was due to the illness or medications. However, I learned later that hair loss is a side effect from one of my medications.

First I cut my hair to a more manageable length to reduce the weight and stress or pull at the roots. This did not stop the hair loss, but I spent less time cleaning hair off the floor, sink, etc. One of my nurses told me about a hair dresser who does not believe in shampoo but uses organic products with less chemicals. I looked at the homemade product used by the hairdresser, but it was too far to ship to where I live. So I decided to just use hot oil treatment and conditioner regularly instead of shampoo. My hair loves olive oil products, so I apply cooking olive oil to my scalp and then a generous amount of leave-in conditioner. I leave it covered with a shower cap for 30 minutes to an hour depending on how much time I have. I then rinse it thoroughly under a very hot shower. After the rinse, I give it a gentle pat with a towel and then use a warm setting on a hand dryer without brushing too hard. When it is dry enough, I style as usual.

This has worked for my hair and the breaking or falling out has reduced significantly. My new growth now has a different texture which I'm still trying to get used to. But starting with luscious hair then going through this, has made me truly appreciate my hair.

Matthew 10:
²⁸ Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. 
Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

²⁹ Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.

³⁰ And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
³¹ So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Dedication

Psalm 30. A song for the dedication of the temple of David.

 ¹ I will exalt you, LORD, for you lifted me out of the depths
   and did not let my enemies gloat over me.
 
² LORD my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me.
³ You, LORD, brought me up from the realm of the dead;
   you spared me from going down to the pit.

 ⁴ Sing the praises of the LORD, you his faithful people;
   praise his holy name.
⁵ For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

 ⁶ When I felt secure, I said, “I will never be shaken.”
⁷ LORD, when you favored me, you made my royal mountain stand firm;
but when you hid your face, I was dismayed.

 ⁸ To you, LORD, I called; to the Lord I cried for mercy:
⁹ “What is gained if I am silenced, if I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise you? Will it proclaim your faithfulness?

¹⁰ Hear, LORD, and be merciful to me; LORD, be my help.”

 ¹¹ You turned my wailing into dancing;
you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
¹² that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.
   LORD my God, I will praise you forever.

Only by Grace

I visited a friend who is undergoing radiation for brain tumour. I was deeply moved by her situation, but reminded that it is only by God's grace that I am here today. My heartfelt prayer to all those suffering from incurable diseases is: that they will find God's grace and help in time of need.

Ephesians 2: 6 - 10

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith— and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. 

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Moving on

It is only by the grace of God that I am here today and alive to tell my own story. Three months on, the Lord has restored to me good health. My energy level is up and I am starting to get active again. I am now trying to rebuild my life. Thankfully, I have the Lord on my side and together we will be rebuilding.

Thank you all who have been supporting me through all these. I pray for all of you still going through sickness and diseases, that the Lord will heal you and restore back your health. I pray that the Lord will give you peace.

Isaiah 54:
¹⁰ Though the mountains be shaken
   and the hills be removed,
yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken
   nor my covenant of peace be removed,
   says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

 ¹¹ Afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted,
   I will rebuild you with stones of turquoise,
   your foundations with lapis lazuli.

¹² I will make your battlements of rubies,
   your gates of sparkling jewels,
   and all your walls of precious stones.

¹³ All your children will be taught by the LORD,
   and great will be their peace.

¹⁴ In righteousness you will be established:
Tyranny will be far from you;
   you will have nothing to fear.
Terror will be far removed;
   it will not come near you.

¹⁵ If anyone does attack you, it will not be my doing;
   whoever attacks you will surrender to you.

 ¹⁶ See, it is I who created the blacksmith
   who fans the coals into flame
   and forges a weapon fit for its work.
And it is I who have created the destroyer to wreak havoc;

 ¹⁷ no weapon forged against you will prevail,
   and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.
This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD,
   and this is their vindication from me,
            declares the LORD.

Two months later

But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side; there is neither adversary nor evil occurrence. 1 Kings 5:4

The good news is that two months after plasmapheresis, my blood test showed everything as normal again and my medications have been reduced. I am feeling much better and improving physically daily. This is such joy.

A dear friend of mine, Gigi, was relived from her suffering and sadly passed away a week ago. She battled with colon cancer for a few years but has now gone to join the angels. She was such a special person and would be remembered lovingly by many. It was better for her to depart and to be with the Lord just as Paul said in the Bible (Philippians 1:23). My deepest sympathy goes out to her family. She will be missed.

Psalm 124, A song of David

 ¹ “If it had not been the LORD who was on our side,”
         Let Israel now say—
 ² “If it had not been the LORD who was on our side,
         When men rose up against us,
 ³ Then they would have swallowed us alive,
         When their wrath was kindled against us;
 ⁴ Then the waters would have overwhelmed us,
         The stream would have gone over our soul;
 ⁵ Then the swollen waters
         Would have gone over our soul.”    
 ⁶ Blessed be the LORD,
         Who has not given us as prey to their teeth.
 ⁷ Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers;
         The snare is broken, and we have escaped.
 ⁸ Our help is in the name of the LORD,
         Who made heaven and earth.

Fearing no evil

Six weeks after leaving the hospital, I am so much better. Restoration has been progressive with new accomplishments each day. I was able to walk leisurely for two hours, shopping, without needing to sit every two minutes. I can now walk up and down stairs with ease without being short of breath. I have no inflammation, no pain, no rash, and I am coping with the sun better. I am also slowly reducing my medications. What a journey. However, there is always that lingering fear of "going through it all again".

To overcome this fear, I have to remind myself daily that:
  "Never again will I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
    I will fear no evil,
    For the Lord is with me,
    His rod and His staff, they comfort me"  Adapted from Psalm 23:4

To my network of friends and family, thank you for your support. You make me who I am. To all of you going through sickness or disease, I pray that your healing and recovery will be speedy.

A tapestry of the journey

Part 1: In the beginning
The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
   He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside quiet waters,
   He refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
   for his name’s sake.  Psalm 23: 1 -3

Part 2: The dark days
Even though I walk
   through the valley of the shadow of death
I will fear no evil,
   for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
   they comfort me.  Psalm 23:4

Part 3: The healing
You prepare a table before me
   in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
   my cup overflows. Psalm 23:5

Then your light shall break forth like the morning,
   Your healing shall spring forth speedily,
And your righteousness shall go before you;
   The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. Isaiah 54:14

Part 4: Restoration
Restore us, LORD God Almighty;
   make your face shine on us,
   that we may be saved. Psalm 80: 19

Let their flesh be renewed like a child’s;
   let them be restored as in the days of their youth’—
then that person can pray to God and find favor with him,
   they will see God’s face and shout for joy;
   he will restore them to full well-being. Job 33:25-26

Part 5: And
Surely your goodness and mercy will follow me
   all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
   forever. Psalm 23:6