She lost her hair while battling a brain tumor. Her child grew his hair out to create her a wig

A woman in Arizona lost her hair while receiving radiation therapy for a brain tumour, so her son let his hair grow and had a $2,000 wig fashioned from it.

Mother-of-six Melanie Shaha revealed to Today’s Elise Solé that her benign pituitary brain tumour was initially identified by medical professionals in 2003.

The pituitary gland, a tiny structure connected to the base of the brain, produces hormones that regulate “many” bodily processes, including growth and fertility, according to The National Cancer Institute. According to the American Cancer Society, around 10,000 pituitary tumours are identified annually in the country.

According to “Today,” Melanie had surgery to remove the plum-sized tumour, but in 2006 she needed a second treatment because it had reappeared. When the tumour reappeared for the third time in 2017, she was recommended radiation therapy.

According to the National Cancer Institute, radiation treatment may induce hair loss in the treated body area. According to the institute, hair regrows typically within three to six months, although a high dosage of radiation may cause hair to regrow sparsely or not at all.

“Not having hair, you stick out like a sore thumb, and well-meaning people can say things that break your heart,” she told “Today.”

“I don’t mind being sick, but I mind looking sick. I’d rather blend in and not stand out at the store.”

“Today,” said over a family meal in 2018, Matt, Melanie’s son, who is 27 years old, cracked a joke that gave rise to an idea.

“I said, ‘Why don’t I grow out my hair to make a wig for you?'”

Matt said to the source that he was growing out his hair at the time since the institution he attended had tight guidelines about hair length.
Despite Melanie’s initial reluctance to accept her son’s offer, he persevered and, by late March of this year, had grown 12 inches of hair, according to “Today.” According to KSAZ, a neighbourhood news source in Phoenix, Arizona, Matt’s hair grew for 2.5 years.

Matt cut off his long hair with the aid of his colleagues in March of this year, according to “Today.”

“We were super pumped, and when they started cutting, we bawled,” Melanie told “Today.”

The hair was then sent to Compassionate Creations in Newport Beach, California, where it was hand-stitched together to create a wig, according to “Today.” The wig, according to KSAZ, cost $2,000.

“The colour is spectacular, and we had it cut and styled with a hairdresser,” Melanie told “Today.” “Matt said it looks great on me.”

“It’s a no-brainer,” Matt told KSAZ. “She gave me the hair in the first place.”

The Shahas did not react promptly to Insider’s request for comment.

An Arizona lady may credit her kid for a fresh head of hair.

According to Today, Melanie Shaha lost her hair in 2018 after getting radiation therapy for the third time for a benign tumour on her pituitary gland.

“Not having hair, you stick out like a sore thumb, and well-meaning people can say things that break your heart,” she told the outlet. “I don’t mind being sick, but I mind looking sick. I’d rather blend in and not stand out at the store.”

One day at lunch that year, her son made what seemed to be a lighthearted proposal.

“I said, ‘Why don’t I grow out my hair to make a wig for you?'” Matt, 27, told the outlet.

According to Fox affiliate KSAZ-TV, Matt grew his hair over the following two and a half years, with his locks looking the most like his mother’s in terms of colour and texture.

According to Today, he chopped his hair completely off in March, when it was 12 inches long.

“We were super-pumped, and when they started cutting, we bawled,” recalled Melanie.

According to KSAZ-TV, Matt spent $2,000 to have the hand-stitched hairpiece made by California wig manufacturer Compassionate Creations.

“Had to share these candid shots of our client Melanie rocking her custom-built wig!” the company wrote on social media earlier this month.

“We had the perfect blond supplemental hair in stock to pair with their submissions and couldn’t be happier with the results! ⁣”

Melanie is pleased with her new hairstyle.

“You know, I’ve lost my eyebrows, lost my eyelashes, I lost my hair, so it’s just been such a tremendous gift to be able to have a more normal appearance, to go places and not stand out because you look unusual, but to fit in and be beautiful,” Melanie told the Phoenix station. “It’s really great.”

A son grew his hair and trimmed it to construct a wig for his mother after losing her hair due to a benign brain tumour.

Melanie Shaha of Gilbert, Arizona, began experiencing dull headaches in 2003, which proved to be signs of a benign pituitary brain tumour.

The tiny gland near the base of the brain controls hormones involved in metabolism, stress, and growth.

Melanie’s plum-sized tumour interfered with the pituitary gland’s ability to function.

Matt’s hair had grown to 12 inches by March 21—enough for a wig. He went to his mother’s house with a handful of his employees, where they cut it all off.

“We were super pumped, and when they started cutting, we bawled,” said Melanie.

Matt’s hair was transferred to Compassionate Creations in Newport Beach, California, where Melanie received a hand-tied wig in June.

“The family was such a joy to work with,” co-founder Veronica Balch told TODAY Parents. “When someone selflessly shaves their head for a family member, it makes what we do even more special.”

Melanie loves her wig. “The color is spectacular, and we had it cut and styled with a hairdresser,” she said. “Matt said it looks great on me.”

Melanie recognized that Matt’s present would be difficult to surpass. “It sure fills your emotional cup.”