DENVER - After a cancer diagnosis there are countless appointments. None are easy. For a woman from Parker, one appointment in her cancer fighting process was less stressful because of other women who understand.
Susan Lewis sits down in the salon, Hana Designs. She has a nervous smile and is fighting back tears.
"I think this is the hardest part, because I like my hair," Lewis said.
She turns to the woman sitting beside her and asks, "Can you tell it's falling out?" Since she started chemotherapy for her breast cancer she says it has come out in clumps each time she brushes her hair.
Hana, the owner of the salon, turns on the clippers. The buzzing sound feels louder than it is.
Susan's husband Mark is close by.
"This is going to be very emotional. She was crying all day long," he said.
He looks to be blinking back tears too.
For them both, shaving Susan's head is an outward representation of the battle warring inside.
Susan's back is to the mirror as long pieces of her shoulder length blonde hair drops to the floor.
"It's a lot, it's overwhelming. I've had my surgery and I'm in my second round of chemo now," she said.
Hana understands. She has been in that seat.
"I had breast cancer 19 years ago, I was diagnosed on my birthday," Hana said.
It is why she is so passionate about helping other women now.
It is the reason she is so happy to give Susan a gift once all her hair is shaved off. She hands her new friend a wig and together they talk about making it look just like the hair - now on the floor.
Camilla Formica is in the chair next to Susan. She reaches out her hand. The two women feel connected. Camilla is one of the many women have benefited from Hana's Hope. Hana's Hope is a nonprofit organization providing services to clients experiencing certain dramatic physical changes in hair and skin conditions resulting from various health issues
Camilla takes off her wig to show her bald head.
"In 6 weeks after your treatment, this is what you can expect to see. It will be ok," she said.
Hana came to realize the importance of a wig when she needed one but did not have insurance to cover the expense of a wig - or treatment. Her friends rallied to help raise money to support her fight against breast cancer. She says she'll never forget the day she was cancer free and able to pass her wig to another woman.
This weekend, Hana will donate as many as 500 wigs because she knows that hair represents so much - not just the patients.
Camilla nods. She couldn't bear to tell her 10-year-old daughter that she had cancer. She just said "mommy is sick." But the subject of hair gave away her secret.
"When I talked to her and told her I was going to lose my hair she looked at me and said, 'Mom, do you have cancer?'" she said.
Susan has two boys, four and ten years old. They know their Mom won't have her hair when she comes home. After Susan's wig is cut and styled, she isn't sure her kids would even know the difference.
"It just looks like I got a haircut," she said.
The smile on her face isn't nervous anymore. She isn't holding back tears. Wearing her beautiful new wig, she is relieved and happy.
"You can see a glow that came back," her husband said.
Susan Lewis looks in the mirror confidently.
"I feel such a hope that this is all doable," she said.
The Day of Caring at Hana Designs is Saturday, Sept. 17. There will be complimentary chair massages, makeovers and scalp treatments. Hana will give out donated wigs to women for those in need and whose financial situation prohibits them from buying one.
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