On most Mondays, you’ll find the doors closed at Bella Salon and Spa. However, four times a year, the staff comes in on their day off to partner with CURE Childhood Cancer to offer a spa night to the moms of our young patients.
Last Monday, we held a night for a special group of women who have traveled the unimaginable road of losing their child to cancer. All of the women had worked with our CURE staff, but most of them did not know each other. These courageous women walked into the spa, an inviting atmosphere filled with smiles and hugs from CURE staff and volunteers.
A table inside was loaded down with delicious appetizers, baked goods, and bags filled with presents for the moms. After a blessing from The Children’s Hospital’s Chaplain, Rachel Butler, everyone enjoyed lots of sweets and finger food. Baked goods were donated by Just Freshly Baked in Pooler; while the gift bags were filled by Leah Collins-Avon Representative and Jill Allen Design- Hand Stamped and Hand Crafted Jewelry.
There were gasps of surprise and happiness as each mom discovered a beautiful necklace hand crafted just for her; engraved with the name of her child on a heart.
Soon, the staff of Bella’s began treating the moms to facials, pedicures, and hair styling. Rachel also made her way to each mom to say a special “Blessing of the Hands”. In between salon services, everyone shared stories and memories. We heard about Catie’s mischievous ways, Joy’s love of ice cream delivered by her Daddy, and Brandi’s insistence of wearing lip gloss all the time.
We also learned that Robbie should be graduating from high school on Saturday, but instead white doves will be released. Evan’s “Monkey in the Chair” will once again take Evan’s place, but this time at Evan’s kindergarten graduation.
Each child’s story continues to move others to action and understanding; while each precious mom learns that grief never stops, it just becomes manageable. As one of our moms said, “You eventually stop counting their passing with weeks, but instead mark it in months, then years. Then you have to learn how to keep on living without them.” Each mom left understanding that she was not alone on her journey, but surrounded by CURE’s loving staff and volunteers, but also other Mom’s who understood the pain of the ultimate loss.
