When reality hits home

I fought back tears as we pulled up in front of the hair salon Friday afternoon. All of a sudden the reality of what my beautiful bride was going through hit and hit hard.

Linda had been in the hospital since Monday and was able to come home yesterday.

The week after Linda’s chemotherapy treatment on June 24 she began running a fever. A call to her doctor resulted in a trip to the ER at Regional West Medical Center.

“We want you to spend the night.”

The night turned into four.

She was feeling much better, smiling, but it was time.

A quick call and the appointment was made.

At 4:40 p.m. Maria at The Twisted Bang turned on the clippers.

“Bye, bye hair,” Linda said.

 “It will grow back,” Maria said.

This tough reporter has to confess, as I watched Maria do her job, I couldn’t hold back the tears.

The battle with ovarian cancer has been ruthless this first go round.

I knew this would happen, but watching my wife, the strong one, go through battle after battle.

Cancer is no longer the death sentence it once was, but it is still a terrible disease that attacks in many different forms. No one is immune, it mercilessly targets male, female, rich, poor, every race, young and old.

I think of the battle young Ashyton Schwartz put up and won. The ongoing battle of Ashlynn Fitts, another young hero, and I recently heard of a great Gering teacher who just learned she has to battle breast cancer. The list can go on and on.

You probably know a few who are or have battled cancer.

Everyone who has or has had to battle cancer is a hero.

“We are going to Think positive,” Maria said. “It will all grow back more lush then ever.”

In less than 10 minutes Linda sported a beautiful military buzz cut.

Maria tied the scarf around Linda’s head, gave her a huge.

I stood up, wiped a tear from my eye and headed out the door with my beautiful hero.