In July I began losing round patches of hair. Last week I was diagnosed with scarring alopecia. A biopsy showed that my hair loss is permanent. While I was sad, I was hopeful that a transplant or other restoration options would be available to me. I drove to Richmond to visit with various experts and each one said there was nothing to be done.
My husband, Mike, comforted me over the phone after each consultation. Before going back home, I was able to secure an appointment with someone who fitted wigs.
Waiting for that appointment was so hard. I pulled in front of the salon an hour ahead of time and drove away. I guess I felt walking inside make it final.
I love how God was preparing my heart even before I knew what was coming…I was listening to “Live, Love, Lead” by Brian Houston on audible. Here is one of the quotes from my drive
The anguish is real but there is something more real – more powerful – more all compassing than any loss, crisis, or trauma we can encounter… the love of God through the power of His son Jesus Christ. – Brian Houston
In the middle of all my tears and the drive away from the salon, I ended up in a strip mall parking lot.
When I stopped crying long enough to look up – I got so tickled. I could go do a little yoga – then an Irish dance and top it all off with a smoke. All in the same place. Have you ever seen such a combination? 😀 I thanked the Lord for making me laugh in the middle of everything.
With that I drove back to the salon. God in His mercy had directed me to an expert that works with people from several states. More importantly, Cheryl is a strong believer and knew just what to do for me in my vulnerable situation.
As I sat in her chair I heard about Cheryl’s own battle with cancer and the many that come through her doors with much bigger battles than my own. She told me the story of a twenty year old that lost all of her hair two weeks before her wedding and of a pediatric case she would be working on soon. God was loving me and giving me perspective moment by moment. I had so much to be thankful for …
The next day Mike and Cheryl worked me in for my wig.
I’m thankful for Cheryl’s heart and her skill.
This isn’t the end of the story. It is the beginning.
I want you to feel comfortable if you see me one day with a sassy wig and another day with a ball cap or scarf. I’ve got to figure all this out with riding bikes – hiking – and going to Guatemala. 😀. I don’t mind if you ask me questions or if you share my story with someone you think it will help.
We all go through the unexpected in one way or another. When it comes your way, remember with me these 5 things:
- Whatever you are facing today – God is for you not against you.
- If the enemy can get us to question our calling or question our identity, he can make is vulnerable to expecting less than God’s best. — Let’s don’t let him do that!!!
- The enemy wants you and me to feel condemned, overlooked, and left out. (All lies – let’s sink our teeth into truth).
- It’s “ok” NOT to “be ok” with what you’re going through. We don’t have to like it. Sometimes things stink.
- It is what it is… but more importantly –He is who He is. He loves me and He loves you.
We are not defined by our disappointments. Let’s don’t let them stop us for hard-charging the dreams,goals, and the purposes God has for each one of us.
Romans 8:28
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
ALL things …
With love,
Lisa
Lisa H. Bryant 
I was going to say on your video today that I loved your haircut😊 Thanks for sharing your story, you never know who this will help. God is Good
I so hope it will help someone ❤️
This brought tears to my eyes and yet encouraged me all the same!! Your beauty goes far beyond your hair and your outward appearance (although you are BEAUTIFUL!) Your faith, your love for others, and your unwavering trust in The Lord makes you beautiful. I know this was difficult to share, but it blessed me and I know it will bless others!!! Love your new hair and love YOU!! 💛
Thank you sweet friend. ((Hugs))
You are a beautiful person. Hair or no hair. I remember how devastated my mother was when she lost her hair to chemo. And the day she went to get her wig. It was a humbling experience . God got her thru and he will get you thru too. He has a plan and this is just part of it. You are in my prayers. Have a Merry Christmas. Love you. Carla
Merry Christmas ! Thank you!
Your truly beautiful inside and out. I love your heart your strength and your love for our Father. You are a light shinning in this dark world and your words are truthful. Thank you for sharing I love to see your smile and hear your voice I’m so thankful. Your friend in Christ, Charlotte
Thank you Charlotte ❤️
Bravo, Lisa! I am so proud of your courage in the midst of this journey! I’ve known others who have gone through alopecia, and it’s often hard to see it as a good diagnosis, but in the grand scheme of life, there are some greater crises than this one! You’re a beautiful lady, and God will bless others through your story.
Dearest Lisa,
Thank you so much for sharing your personal life experiences and encouraging other women with your strong faith in the Lord. You are such a blessing to know! I love you and wish there were more people like you in this world. Hugs, Debra
Love you – Debra
Lisa,
You’re so blessed you can’t be perfect in all facts of life. My hair was very important to me! When I was diagnosed with cancer the only thing I could think of was. Oh I’m going to loose my hair. Not thinking I could loose my life or loose my breast it was my hair😬 Your family will be your back bone Lisa. God has been by my side i never knew how to live. Until I let him take control. Thank God that it’s only hair which is very important to a woman🙏🏻❤️
Cindy – you are a real hero and your story continues to encourage me and so many others. Thank you for taking the time to encourage me
What a wise, strong, humble woman of God you are! I admire you so much, Lisa. When I saw you in the parking lot during Christmas Cares on Saturday I was so impressed with your lovely hairstyle. I had no idea it was a wig. I think you hit a homerun with your first choice. Thanks for shearing your story. God bless you, Lisa. Thanks for being a strong role model for so many of us. Love and hugs.
Tina – I was so glad to see your smiling face. That was my first time out and I was feeling so insecure. Your sweet smile ministered to my heart. Love you
19 years ago I lost my wife Linda to cancer. Her hair, thick and slightly curly came out one morning by the handfuls. She screamed, we shaved it all off and on went her scarf and hat. We went through 3 years until she left me for a much better man…and our Savior. Two of those years she went through countless treatments, radiation, and surgeries, she never missed a day she wasn’t hospitalized. She lost her locks 4 times each time thicker and curlier. My daughter since then gives to “Locks of Love”. My prayers are with you! See you in Church! Wayne Frankenfield Philippians 1:6
Wayne – thank you for sharing your experience with me. I so appreciate your prayers –
I would love to know where the wig place is. I have lost about 50% of my already extremely thin hair due to detoxing from lead poisoning. It hasn’t grown back much at all in a year thanks for sharing your journey. It is hard to swallow but I do realize things could be a lot worse.
Lisa – here is their website with all the details. http://planethairva.com/
Professional and sensitive.
Your story sounds almost like my story. I started losing my hair at what I consider an early age. It got so bad I finally went to a dermatologist, and she did a biopsy on my scalp. It came back as some form of alopecia. There was a lot of tears shed. My hairdresser couldn’t even tell me where to go to find a wig that didn’t look fake. Someone in my family, maybe it was my daughter found Cheryl and her shop. I was like you, I didn’t want to make an appointment. After all this can’t be real and wigs look so awful. At least that’s what I thought. As I told Cheryl after my third visit, wigs aren’t your mother’s wigs anymore. There are some really beautiful synthetic wigs that don’t look like wigs at all. My little grandson thanks I’m beautiful even without my wig. He tells me to take it off sometimes and he always says your beautiful. That means the world to me when he tells me that. Hopefully he sees the beauty within, which is what counts. Thank you for putting your story out there. Thank you Cheryl for being out there for us wig lovers. God bless you both.
Kathy – thank you for sending me this message. And I agree – thank you to Cheryl. Have a Merry Christmas with your grandson!!!
I also had tears reading your story. I had alopecia years ago. When I lost my hair I just kept thinking about people who lost theirs from chemo. I felt so blessed that was not my case but I had some of the same feeling you had. I got a wig and dealt with it the best I could. I love your sense of humor as well as your faith.Your story will touch many people and I admire you for sharing it. I love your wig!!!!!
Thank you for sharing you story with me – Sharon. 😀. More encouraging than you know.
Lisa, you are such an inspiration to all of us. You are beautiful inside and out. Love your new “hair” but you are beautiful without it. I know your mom is so proud of you – we all are.
Thank you – Joyce. 😀😀😀.
Lisa…you are such a blessing to me always. I love how you look to God first, all the time, and how He had used you to bless and reach so many. I am so sorry to hear about the alopecia but I love the new hair…you are gorgeous as always! Have a merry Christmas and maybe we can get together for lunch or something next month. Love you! 💕
Lesley, I am not sure how I missed this. You are a blessing to me,too. Thank you- Can’t wait until we can get together. Merry Christmas!
Hi Lisa! This may be happening to me! I’m a strong believer in Christ and just an hour ago prior to me reading your posts, I told a friend of mine, that God loves me and that he would speak to me and tell me what to do! A lot of people have been speaking to me and telling me what to do, but I needed to hear from my Lord! This is so amazing! Could you message me and tell me what steps to take because I’m at the stage now where I have no choice but to seriously hunt for a wig! God has been so good to me! I still have joy in Him, but being a twin, I’m not pleased with being the hairless twin! Thank you!
Hi Sharon – so good to hear from you. I’d be glad to chat with you. Perhaps Monday ? Praying for you
Lisa thank you for being so transparent and vulnerable to share this experience with all of us. Had you not shared I wouldn’t even have known it was a wig it looks amazing whether its’a wig or just your hair you are beautiful regardless. Bless You sweet Lisa ❤ Love it! and Love You ❤
Lorena,
It was great to see you today – and get that big hug. Thank you so much – Love you!
Lisa, you did a beautiful job telling your story.It will surely be an inspiration to many. I am so proud of you. And, by the way, that is a beautiful picture!
Mrs. Kimbrough,
Thank you so much! I appreciate you. Looking forward to some time in Alabama soon.
Lisa
Lisa!!! I am telling you, YOU LOOK STUNNING! I absolutely love it and admire your courage to share your struggle. As for me,growing up the daughter of a hairstylist, wigs and hairpieces have always been a part of life for us. I have several in my closet now that I wear from time to time. But you are, as they say,”Rockin it”. God bless you sweet lady!
I love you, Lisa! You are ALWAYS beautiful, inside and out! Thank you for sharing from your heart. God bless you and keep you!
Amy,
I love you, too. Thank you for reaching out.
You look stunning. Isn’t God good?!
Thank you – Margaret! Yes – He definitely is …