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Volume 79 • No. 34
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Observer Friday, January 8th, 2016
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Locks lopped off for love Lynne Bell
Observer Staff
A Carlyle mother’s battle with cancer is a tough journey, but Jacquie McConnell won’t be walking alone. Jacquie’s children-daughter Jossalyn, 24 and son Brett, 21-along with several of their friends have-or will be-shaving their heads in tribute to the woman they all call “Mom.” Twenty-year-old Kyle Gudmundson of Carlyle says, “I’ve known Jacquie for the entire time I’ve lived in Carlyle. Her son Brett is my best friend and she’s almost like a parent to me.” “I didn’t think twice about shaving my head in support of Jacquie,” added Gudmundson. “She’s a great person and she’s been extremely strong through this and I love her.” “Mom was diagnosed a while ago,” says Jossalyn. “She was in pain with what was thought to be a bulged disc in her back. The pain had gotten really bad, so she was admitted to the hospital in Regina for an MRI, where she found out it wasn’t a back problem, but a tumour.” “The tumour turned out to be cancerous, and so she has to have both radiation and chemo.” “Mom was always getting her hair done,” adds Jossalyn. “So I can relate to how hard it must be for her to lose her hair. Shaving my head and collecting donations was just my way of helping out.” Prior to shaving her head, Jossalyn collected donations totalling $3,410 for the purchase of her mother’s wig and for the “Look Good, Feel Better” Foundation, “which helps women look and feel their best during cancer treatment.” “My mom is the kind of person who would do anything for anyone,” says Jossalyn. “She’s an amazing person who is always going out of her way to take care of other people. I just wanted to show her that other people-not just her familywanted to show her their support and to take care of her.” “In fact, she was really worried about me and how I’d react to having my head shaved. I’m a hairstylist and a makeup artist and anyone who knows me knows that I’m always changing my hair. Once I got my hair cut pretty short and I wasn’t happy with it,” says Jossalyn. “My mom mentioned that and I told her this time would be completely different, because I’m doing this to support her. “I told her: ‘It’s different this time. I’m not going to be upset because I’m shaving my head for you. It’s just hair.’” On Monday, Dec. 21, the trio visited Carlyle’s New Dimension Hair Studio, where stylist Alicia Brown did their new ‘dos, while Facetiming Jacquie in Regina. “It was definitely a very touching moment for me,” says Brown. “The McConnells are like a second family to me and Jacquie’s like my second mom.” “It was an honour to do it.” Jacquie’s son, Brett says of his time in the stylists’s chair: “It’s hard for a woman to lose her hair, and I would do anything just to support my mom.” “We just want her to keep on fighting. I love her. We all do.” To make a contribution in honour of Jacquie McConnell, please contact Jossalyn McConnell.
Photo submitted
Carlyle mother Jacquie McConnell’s battle with cancer is a tough journey, but she won’t be walking alone. Her daughter Jossalyn, her son Brett and many of their friends have shaved their heads and collected funds in her honour. Pictured with their new ‘dos in Carlyle’s New Dimension Hair Studio are: Jossalyn McConnell (seated, front) and (back row, left to right) Kyle Gudmundson, hairstylist Alicia Brown and Brett McConnell.
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