Better Off Bald

Dancing has a hidden factor that I cannot describe in words, that hits a nerve and just lets everything flow within me. It is almost as if I am cured from something when I am dancing, but I am not quite sure what I have been cured of once I stop.   The post Better Off Bald: Episode 20 Days 59 61 appeared first on Andrea Wilson Woods.

Adrienne laughs.  You mean I can take pot legally? That s what I m recommending, says Dr. Marco. I don t know how to respond.  You said smoking it was better but I wouldn t even know where to get it. Adrienne laughs harder and says, I can think of a few people. The post Better Off Bald: Episode 19 Days 53 58 appeared first on Andrea Wilson Woods.

I can t look at Adrienne as I read the final line. Two-Year Survival: Less than five percent. My throat constricts as I swallow the lump in it. I feel water rushing to my eyes as I bite the dry skin off my lip. I look at Adrienne. Well, it didn t say zero percent. I ll just […] The post Better Off Bald: Episode 18 Days 51 52 appeared first on Andrea Wilson Woods.

Adrienne and I decided to explore an old house in the town, ignoring the signs that read, Don t go beyond this point. Rattlesnake area. My father became agitated. Girls, didn t you read the sign? We ll be fine dad, I said. John threw his hands up in the air and stormed away. They play by their […] The post Better Off Bald: Episode 17 Days 45 50 appeared first on Andrea Wilson Woods.

I will be reborn. I will fight this, pills and all, and it will not kill me. I will be drop dead gorgeous even if I don t have hair. I will help people who have to go through this. I will be amazing and impossible to avoid. ALL OF THIS SHIT IS TEMPORARY, PAIN IS NOT […] The post Better Off Bald: Episode 16 Days 41 44 appeared first on Andrea Wilson Woods.

For the first time in my life, I sleep well for nights at a time. I don t remember my dreams anymore, which used to wake me up in the middle of the night or leave me feeling tired the next day. My insomnia started in childhood along with the vivid dreams. Mental fatigue, however, proves […] The post Better Off Bald: Episode 15 Days 36 40 appeared first on Andrea Wilson Woods.

Bring Mr. Navarro out to the stage because a young lady would like to meet him. I didn t think it was possible for Adrienne s smile to get any bigger, but I swear I can see her back molars now. I silently thank Jay for making Adrienne s dream come true. The post Better Off Bald: Episode 14 Day 35 appeared first on Andrea Wilson Woods.

I tell the nurse, To my recollection, Adrienne was never given more than six milligrams of Dilaudid every four hours as a continuous drip except when she pushed the PCA for acute episodes of pain. I speak these words, this medical mumbo jumbo, without thinking. I am one of them now, only without the degree. […] The post Better Off Bald: Episode 13 Days 31 34 appeared first on Andrea Wilson Woods.

No, he says, there is no change. The words hang in the air before falling fast to the ground. No change, which is better than a bad change, but not as good, as the tumors are smaller now or the dots have disappeared from her lungs or it s a miracle. No change beats me up, […] The post Better Off Bald: Episode 12 Days 29 30 appeared first on Andrea Wilson Woods.

I have no job. Yet, I have never worked harder in my life. Tears are always near the surface, but an inner core of strength sucks them back down. Things are not looking up. I cannot face what rock bottom will be this time. I lose myself in research: searching for a clinical trial or […] The post Better Off Bald: Episode 11 Days 24 28 appeared first on Andrea Wilson Woods.

When Dr. Hale placed Adrienne in my arms for the first time, I didn t care that she had a big forehead, squishy eyes, and flushed skin covered in dried, yellow crusty stuff. I felt this rush of love jettison through my entire being, so powerful I thought it could knock people down. I would do […] The post Better Off Bald: Episode 10 Days 18 23 appeared first on Andrea Wilson Woods.

There are dry goods, which have a long shelf life, but there are also rotting bananas, old apples, day-old muffins, and a cake that expired a week ago. Even as I thank them, I vow not to return. Cancer has consumed Adrienne s liver, her lungs, and now our lives, but I refuse to let it […] The post Better Off Bald: Episode 9 Days 14 17 appeared first on Andrea Wilson Woods.

“Cancer gave me cheekbones and an excuse to wear a strawberry wig. I get to spend time with my family, which was really rare before this. I m getting a new bed when I get home. All things positive and light have resulted from the tiny bulbs that have decided to live on my liver and […] The post Better Off Bald: Episode 8 Days 11 13 appeared first on Andrea Wilson Woods.

Here s the deal: I m your parent first, then your sister, and when you get older, I hope to be your friend. Got it? One more thing, don t ever threaten me again. The post Better Off Bald: Episode 7 Days 8 10 appeared first on Andrea Wilson Woods.

Adrienne looks at the four of us with a determined gleam. I d rather be dead than deaf. I want to strangle her. She would rather be dead than deaf? The post Better Off Bald: Episode 6 Days 6 7 appeared first on Andrea Wilson Woods.

So instead of praying for the cancer to go away, I pray for something more realistic. Please god, if you are out there, please let it be ovarian cancer. Adrienne can live without her ovaries, but not her liver. Women survive ovarian cancer. The post Better Off Bald: Episode 5 Days 4 5 appeared first on Andrea Wilson Woods.

I have never heard of liver cancer before. Cirrhosis, yes, too much alcohol causes liver damage. What did he say? H something. Cellular is the second word. Need the fog sucked out of my head. Can t think. The post Better Off Bald: Episode 4 Day 3 appeared first on Andrea Wilson Woods.

In my head, I stop speaking. This is the first time I ve said the C word aloud and I say it to this angry, horrible woman whose child, I m sure, is perfectly healthy. The post Better Off Bald: Episode 3 Day 2 appeared first on Andrea Wilson Woods.

Working in an ER is supposed to consist of broken bones, chest pains, deep cuts, maybe an occasional gunshot wound. I believe he has never given this kind of news before. Dr. Lin glances at Adrienne, but then turns to me. She has tumors in her liver and lungs. The post Better Off Bald: Episode 2 Day 1 appeared first on Andrea Wilson Woods.

Better Off Bald chronicles my sister Adrienne s 147-day battle with liver cancer; the book also shows how I reared Adrienne from the time she was eight until she died at the age of fifteen. While I narrate the story in present tense, I use flashbacks to explain how I gained custody of Adrienne from our mother, […] The post Better Off Bald: Episode 1 Before Adrienne appeared first on Andrea Wilson Woods.