Generosity and Compassion

I was honored to be invited, along with nearly 20 other Huntington Hospital Cancer Center patients, to Tangles Salon on Wednesday, when the owner locked the doors at 5 p.m. and the entire staff donated their time to help make us look and feel beautiful during their annual Pink Ribbon event.

From massages and makeup to manicures and hair styling, their generosity and compassion was such a gift (including dinner). No fees were charged and no tips were accepted. Each person who donated services said it was their pleasure and their honor, which was such a kind thing to say. 

As you can imagine, many of the patients, including yours truly, were emotional throughout the evening.

The services I chose were a shoulder, back and neck massage, makeup, massage of arms and hands (by a manicurist) and a scalp treatment and massage plus hair styling by the young man below.

In the photo below are the breast cancer survivor (front left) and the Tangles owner (front right) who organize this annual event; a patient (back left) who is in the same breast cancer support group as I am; and Tina Ivie (back right), the registered nurse navigator who has been with me every step of the way ever since I was diagnosed in April 2015. 

Tina connected with me immediately after I was diagnosed, answered all my questions (and still does) and helped coordinate, along with my oncologists and others, every aspect of my care while encouraging me to take an active role in making informed decisions about my treatment plan. As you can tell, I love Tina Ivie! (Another Huntington registered nurse navigator, Nancy Cushing, was at the event as well.)

I don't think any of the patients can fully express our gratitude, but suffice it to say we were all tickled pink!

Photo credits: Tangles Salon (top photo collage, from their Facebook page), Ann Erdman, Tina Ivie, Doctor Goodsmiles.