Friends, I really wasn’t planning on shaving this year. We were in the middle of packing the house to move and making sure we checked in with all of our speciality doctors before we left Las Vegas. That meant a day, yes- almost an entire day, waiting to see our Hematologist at the cancer center. We arrived at eight am, sat in the crowded waiting room for an hour and then we were finally granted a private room...where I did my best to entertain a one and five year old for the duration. Henry fell off the table, Max had to have a blood draw and screamed louder than I’ve ever heard. It took two nurses to hold him down. Even though we’d been over it ten times to prepare, he was still convinced that they were trying to steal bits of his brain. Like really convinced. Like hysterics and swatting arms, tears and shaking convinced. And then we waited for the results. I kept telling the kids, “we are lucky, we are healthy so we can wait. The doctors need to see the sick kids first, they need help more than we do.” And even though Max didn’t understand/believe me about the non-brain stealing blood draw, he understood that it was actually a gift to get to wait. That he wasn’t one of the kids a few feet away, bravely sitting in a chemo chair, or throwing up, or crying from the pain. And I think he could see on my face what a gift it was to not be the mom holding their baby’s hand, sitting helplessly in the presence of such suffering, such heartbreak. By the time we had their blood results back, lollipops in my pocket and were headed for the car, I felt sick. Because our appt. lasted well into the afternoon, I had to rush to physical therapy. Although painful and slow, my shoulder was the least of my concerns. When I arrived, I was approached by two of the energetic, beautiful young girls who work there. They were electrified, alive and recounting how much my shared experience with St. Baldrick’s inspired them ( I really don’t even remember what I told them about it), so much so that they wanted to form an all-girls team and shave in the next event. I agreed without hesitation and almost cried because I could see their compassion, commitment and humanity radiating. So, it’s with great honor that I’m able to support this incredible foundation, St. Baldrick’s, and be a part of an all-girls, inspiring team. This year I’m doing so in honor of the loved ones who have passed, those who have fought and won and those who are still in the middle of their battle. I do so for the children and parents we see at the cancer center, because it would just be too weird to walk around hugging them and crying--this is my gesture of support and encouragement. This is my way of doing something in the face of tragedy and hardship--because so often, we’re never given the chance to step up, to lighten the load, to stand in solidarity. But I cannot do any of this without your help. Please consider donating to our all-girls team, and join Team Million in this fight. https://www.stbaldricks.org/donate/team/95302/2015 with gratitude and respect, Megan Merchant https://www.stbaldricks.org/donate/team/95302/2015