A Son Grew Out His Hair to Make a Wig for His Mom Who’s Suffered From Brain Tumor for 20 Years: Here’s Their Story
Matt Shaha, 28, went above and beyond to help his mother, Melanie, regain her sense of self. When Melanie lost her hair due to a benign brain tumor, Matt grew out his own hair for 2 years and made a wig for her. Inspired by their strong mother-son bond, we are eager to share their story with our beloved readers.
Shaha’s mom lost her hair due to a brain tumor.
An Arizona mom named Melanie Shaha faced the heartbreaking reality of permanently losing her hair due to radiation treatment for a recurring benign brain tumor. Her son, Matt Shaha, known for his striking strawberry blonde hair, embarked on an extraordinary 2-year journey to give her a precious gift: a brand-new head of hair.
In early 2020, at 27, Matt began growing his hair with this specific purpose in mind. With determination, he patiently nurtured his hair, allowing it to reach an impressive length of 12 inches. When the time was right, he bravely decided to part with his cherished mane, but not without a beautiful plan in place.
“I had surgery to remove the tumor, and I had a really great outcome,” the mother of 6 said. Melanie Shaha recounted her experience, saying that she had asked her doctor about any potential hair loss. The doctor had assured her that she wouldn’t lose her hair. However, 3 months later, she experienced significant shedding and started losing her hair, which obviously came as a surprise.
Melanie Shaha shared her experience, noting that not having hair made her stand out and caused well-meaning individuals to say things that deeply affected her. She shared that while she didn’t mind being sick, she disliked looking sick and preferred blending in rather than attracting attention while out shopping.
Matt came up with the idea of giving his mom a wig.
In 2018, during a family lunch, Melanie’s 28-year-old son, Matt, playfully suggested the idea of growing out his hair to create a wig for her. At the time, Matt had recently graduated from college, where there were hair length restrictions. However, he had been relishing the newfound freedom of growing his hair out, and at that moment, he had a realization that inspired him.
Despite her desire to regain her sense of self, Melanie didn’t want to burden her son. “I would tell him, ’I love your hair,’ and he’d say, ’Coming soon to a head near you!’” she said.
Once his hair had reached the sufficient length of 12 inches, Matt, accompanied by a few of his coworkers, went to his mother’s home. There, they courageously chopped off all of Matt’s hair. Following this heartfelt act, Matt’s cut hair was sent to Compassionate Creations, a Newport Beach, California company. The company diligently crafted a hand-tied wig using Matt’s hair, which was then delivered to Melanie.
Happiness was found again.
Melanie emphasized the rarity of finding a company that accepts donated hair and transforms it into a customized wig. She remarked, “There are lots of places that you can cut your hair and donate it, but there are very few companies that will take your donated hair and make a wig for you.”
As she adorned her head with her son’s long, strawberry-blonde locks, Melanie experienced a renewed sense of familiarity. She saw her reflection for the first time in 4 years and felt like herself again.
The story of Matt and Melanie Shaha exemplifies the powerful and unbreakable bond between children and their mothers. It serves as a beautiful reminder of the love, sacrifice, and support that exist within this unique relationship.
