Kind-Hearted Son Grows Out Hair For 2 Years To Make Wig For His Mother Who Lost Hair From Brain Tumor

May 17, 2023 by apost team

While there is nothing quite as powerful as the love a mother has for her son, it’s surely the same the other way around as well. Such was the case with Arizona mom Melanie Shaha, whose son Matt Shaha expressed his unconditional love for her in the most endearing way possible.

In 2003, Melanie began experiencing headaches, and medical checks revealed she had a benign pituitary brain tumor. Located in the base of the brain, the small pea-sized gland controls hormones necessary for the regulation of growth, metabolism, stress control and reproduction. Physicians determined Melanie’s tumor was a risk to her pituitary gland, and she was forced to undergo surgery.

“I have had a recurrent benign brain tumor, a pituitary tumor, and I've had surgery twice in 2003 and in 2006,” Melanie told Fox5. “I was very surprised when my tumor returned in 2017 and I had radiation and radiation took my hair. I have not had any hair since Valentine’s Day of 2018.”

Managing hair loss due to radiation therapy can be a strenuous ordeal. According to the National Cancer Institute, hair can grow back within six months of treatment, but high doses of radiation may cause hair to grow back thinner, if at all.

For Melanie, going through the treatments was more than enough for her.

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

Her son Matt was naturally sympathetic to his mother’s plight, and an out-of-the-box solution hit him during a family lunch after he had just graduated from college.

Of the “aha” moment, Matt told NewsNation: “It's kind of funny how it played out actually. It almost came up as a joke. So my hair was starting to get a little long after I graduated college. I went to a school where we had a kind of strict dress code and I kind of jokingly said ‘maybe I’ll grow a wig for you,’ and then it just clicked.”

As Matt’s hair color and texture were the closest to Melanie’s of her six children, the plan seemed close to perfect. Melanie had her doubts, but Matt eased her conscience with jokes. 

“I would tell him, ‘I love your hair’ and he’d say, ‘Coming soon to a head near you!’” she said.

For two years, Matt grew out his hair, and on March 12, 2022, it was long enough at 12 inches to be cut. In honor of the special moment, Matt invited a few colleagues, including Mercedes Berg, who had documented his journey, over to his mother’s house to watch the big snip.

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

Matt had no regrets about his decision.

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

They sent the hair to Compassionate Creations, one of only three companies in the U.S. they could find that makes custom hand-tied wigs with donated hair. What Melanie received was more than just a wig: it was a chance to feel normal again.

“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 KSAZ-TV. 

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Both Melanie and Matt were overjoyed by the outcome. “The color is spectacular and we had it cut and styled with a hairdresser,” Melanie said. "Matt said it looks great on me."

Compassionate Creations co-founder Veronica Balch was also happy with the results, telling Today Parents the family was “a joy to work with.” 

“When someone selflessly shaves their head for a family member, it makes what we do even more special.” “It sure fills your emotional cup,” she added.

It cost $2,000 to make the wig, according to Insider.

Viewers were taken by Matt’s loving gesture, saying they hoped their sons turn out just as well as he did.

“She did amazing in raising her son. What a beautiful soul… I pray my boys think of me in this way,” one viewer commented, while another said, “I hope my son turns out this amazing. Absolute unconditional love here.”

“Oh wow l love this … what a wonderful gift looks wonderful, I love it… Long hair is a lot of work!” another said. “Simply incredible kindness.”

Melanie said while she is still dealing with health issues, she is “living a happy life.” As for Matt, he had some words of advice for those thinking about doing the same:

“I think if there's anyone, and I'm sure that there are, people that are in a similar situation to my mother, seeing what it's been able to do to her has meant the world. I didn't expect it to mean as much as it did until it actually happened. And you know, growing hair, I think if you have the opportunity to grow a full head of hair and donate it, I'd say all power to you.”

What do you think of Matt’s amazing gesture for his mother? Has anyone ever done anything so selfless for you, or have you ever done such a thing for someone else? Let us know, and pass this on to anyone who needs a smile on their face today.