February 26th, 2018

2/26/2018 35 Comments

February 26th, 2018

Chapter twelve

Bald.

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Beauty is fleeting. Beauty is fleeting. Beauty. Is. Fleeting.

Beauty. I have learned over the last few days that we, as humans of the Earth, seem to put our self worth in some pretty funny things. Our clothes, the shoes that we wear, our social status, and media. But most of all (and especially for women) we find our self worth in our appearance. 26 hours ago I shaved my head. Cut every last hair that remained after days of it falling out, into a small little buzz of fuzz on my scalp. A scalp that I had never remembered being able to see, due to the pounds of hair on my head. Ladies, listen up. This might sound crazy…but I wish every single one of your beautiful faces had the opportunity to look in the mirror at yourself without hair. To truly look into your own eyes and say “I am beautifully made, my outward appearance does not define me, others do no define me, and I am loved.” You are so loved by a God who knows exactly how many hairs you have on your head, and still smiles at you when that number has become 0. He smiles in an overwhelming admiration at you!!! Because he is a Father of unconditional love and he knows you were crafted exactly the way you should be. Hair is something that we let define us on the outside of our bodies, when we should be praising one another for the beauty that lies within.

I am currently headed back to Houston and one of my new favorite places, Texas Children’s. Tomorrow I will head to the Out-Patient Cancer Center early in the morning for a full day of activity. After talking with Dr. Dreyer, my Port (the activation site of my infusions from here on out) will be placed, and I will officially begin Day 1 of Round 2. Round 2!! What a crazy thing to see typed and to think about. Round 2 means progress and one month down! I will spend the next three days in Houston and will be receiving infusions on Day 1, 2, and 3. I am praying for strength in moments of weakness and frustration. I am so thankful for the many days of being in high spirits and good health over the last week. Though starting Round 2 may mean new challenges, I am ready to face them head on.

A couple of prayer requests for my next few days in Houston: The successful placement of my port, Minimal side effects of chemotherapy, and smooth transitions into Round 2 as a whole. Please pray for sunny days and for the doctors, nurse, and hospital staff of Texas Children’s. I feel good today. Things are good. Life is good. Today is good.

Bald is Beautiful.

Vidya

2/26/2018 05:00:42 pm

Beauty is skin deep, you are right it is fleeting. But the inner beauty that you possess, is forever. Like many many others , I will continue to pray for you. You will do well in Houston and can't wait for your next chapter. Love you !God bless you Sweetie.

Kim Patierno

2/26/2018 05:09:15 pm

Same beautiful smile! STRONG woman!! Proverbs 31:25-26 She is clothes with strength and dignity, she can laugh at the days to come, she speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue. 😍😘🙏🙏🙏. Kim and Steve

Elizabeth Melber

2/26/2018 05:26:10 pm

Rylie. You are so strong and beautiful. Honestly I don't understand how you are doing so well with this. I am so amazed by God's grace that pours out of you. I truly hope that you can feel all the love and support you have behind you. I love you so much. Been praying for you.

Prissy

2/26/2018 05:33:13 pm

Your strength and spirit are beyond beautiful!!!

Jack Lancaster

2/26/2018 05:34:44 pm

Love and hugs from the Lancaster house. We pray and pray and keep on praying every day.

Rye

2/26/2018 06:00:25 pm

Love y'all! Thank you :-)

Denise Ray

2/26/2018 05:39:01 pm

What a profound message that all girls, young and old, need to read. I am so happy to hear that you know your beauty and worth are in Christ and nothing else. All the Rays are praying for the next round of treatment to be as uneventful as possible. With each round of chemo, you are slowly kicking those cells’ rear ends out of your precious body. We are praying for your mama and daddy and siblings as well. You’ve got all God’s angels surrounding you.xoxo

Suzel Roth

2/26/2018 05:40:50 pm

You are so inspirational.
Don’t stop believing!!

Morgan Peterson

2/26/2018 06:00:40 pm

Rylie you amaze me one time you are doing something the next thing you know you are beat cancer one step at a time. Everyone at CTMS is following you got this Rylie I have a special place in my heart for you ❤️

Darla Thomas

2/26/2018 06:33:28 pm

You are beautiful Rylie! Prayers and strength are being sent your way sweetie!

Cindy Graf

2/26/2018 06:43:45 pm

Praying round 2 goes smoothly! You are an amazing young lady!

Mary Lou

2/26/2018 07:05:26 pm

You are in my prayers every day.

Leigh Lowery

2/26/2018 07:08:46 pm

Praying for you daily! Love you so much.

Callie

2/26/2018 07:14:54 pm

Girl, you are so inspiring. Your trust in God is so strong and I believe He has great plans for you. Also, you are a fantastic writer! So profound. Praying for you!

Mary Frye

2/26/2018 07:30:38 pm

Rylie, you are beautiful in ways some people will never experience. God, as you have hoped, is using you in remarkable ways. I'm a friend of a friend of your mom's. I can't imagine that we will ever meet until Heaven but I'm praying for you as if you were my daughter. I'm praying for you, your parents, your brothers and little sister, your doctors and care givers, and the hundreds of people who love you. Thank you, Father and Great Physician, for the healing that You are already providing for this precious child of Yours. May all that happens in the next few days be filled with ease, success and peace. Bald is beautiful, indeed!

Sharon Foster link

2/26/2018 08:05:16 pm

Thank you for continuing to let us follow you through your journey. I am one of your many, many prayer warriors, and I am praying for the success and smoothness of Round Two! Much love and grace coming to you; God bless! 💚💛💚

Colleen link

2/26/2018 08:31:28 pm

Rylie, thank you for taking the time to allow us all on your journey. Your truth, bravery and postivie outlook is an inspiration to my family. We love you and you will continue to be in my thoughts and prayers daily. Big hugs from the Peterson clan!

Jan

2/26/2018 08:40:47 pm

I know a man who beat Hodgekins Lymphoma. He has been cancer free for 40 years now. Know that you can do it too! His faith got him through it, and you have the faith. You are in the best place in the world for treatment. TCH is phenomenal. Saying prayers for you.

Charlie Arroyo

2/26/2018 08:57:36 pm

Hi Rylie, you probably don't know who I am, but I am a member of Sertoma who always sits at the front table and know who you are because of the Serteen updates you have given us. Fred called me in late January after I took a bad fall that ripped my quad tendon away from my knee cap and shared with me your story. While I faced surgery and six months of recovery, it was quite humbling to hear of your story. I have been following your posts from the very beginning and must say you are an amazing articulate writer and incredible testimony of the Gospel! You are so on target with your faith and I know God is using you in some form or fashion to reach others through your story. You have truly touched me with your words and I am praying for you. No telling how many other strangers are out there just like me reading your posts but for some reason, I felt compelled to share with you tonight that your story has touched my heart. Godspeed Rylie, you are awesome! Bald or blonde!

Kevin

2/27/2018 05:55:56 am

Praying for renewed strength. You are such an encouragement.

Isaiah 40:31 31but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Amanda levy

2/27/2018 06:27:27 am

Raley was right. She said "rylie is so pretty it won't even matter if she has no hair." SO TRUE! You look great and are the same beautiful rylie! Gorgeous inside and out!

Marissa Byrd

2/27/2018 07:46:23 am

Rylie,

I’ve been seeing your Instagram posts over the last few weeks, and only just now did I sit down to read through all of your blog posts.

I am in tears. Tears of joy, tears of hope, tears of confusion. Your posts are so moving, and I can’t tell you in the right combination of words how proud of you I am. I know I was only your swim coach for a short while, but I’m so happy I got to see you shine in the pool, and that I now get to see you shine out of the water in a task much more difficult that making it to the other side of the pool.
If your posts have shown me anything, though, it’s that you’ve got this. You’re so strong, and I can’t wait to continue reading your blog and see your strength shine through.

I love you, girl,

Marissa

Audrey Arechiga-Kajs

2/27/2018 07:59:19 am

God has you, your family and your entire medical team in the palm of his hands. Prayers for a smooth day of treatments.

Carla Catozzi

2/27/2018 08:12:01 am

Continued prayers for you on this journey. Jesus loves you so much and he will never leave you.

Avito link

2/27/2018 08:46:05 am

I came across your Instagram profile when it crossed my feed as a "Suggested User", and I am so glad I saw it. I saw the post from today, 2/27/2018 with the caption, "Round two who????" Even after seeing the photo, I knew. I've been there. My journey lasted for about 16 or so months beginning in early 2016 and right through last year. I completed six rounds of chemotherapy in August of 2017. I was declared in complete remission in June of 2017. Yeah, I too once cherished my thick, dark hair. That is until I would pass my hand through my hair one night in the shower, just days before starting my...you got it, round 2. My youngest sisters saw me come out and could see the patches of missing hair on my head. They cried. I cried. One of them, a haridresser, shaved all the rest of the hair off. I would stay bald until sometime in October. I enjoyed reading this blog post so much. Particularly because it reminded me of just how close I leaned into Jesus during my experience. You can count on my prayers. I know the journey well. I will especially pray that the harsh effects of chemo do not impact you. One of the physicians on my team (I traveled from Dallas to Phoenix for my treatment) marveled at how little chemo effects I experienced. I attributed it all first and foremost to Almight God, but also to a complete dietary change I made - focusing mainly on plant-based meals, lots of raw veggie juices and a massive array of natural herbs and supplements. Psalms 91 and 139 became my best friends. God bless you!

Jim & Sharon Silver

2/27/2018 11:41:13 am

Rylie, You really DO look beautiful bald! That smile radiates your inward and outward beauty!

Another Churchill quote (the third most quoted source of quotations, behind the Bible, and Shakespeare):
"Rallying: Look forward, do not look backward. Gather afresh in heart and spirit all the energies of your being, bend anew together for a supreme effort."

Ann Chenault

2/27/2018 05:33:40 pm

#BALD IS BEAUTIFUL!!!💜💜💜

Meghan Hendrickson link

2/27/2018 08:28:55 pm

Beautiful Rylie, what a bright light you are! Your faith is blowing me away girl! I am praying healing in the name of Jesus for you tonight and will continue to. I have invited everyone in my social networks to join in! Already Kelli and Jeff Smith have told me they’ve already been praying with your family. I am pursuing my Master of Divinity at Baylor’s Truett Seminary and precious girl, I cannot wait to meet you when you begin college this fall! Press on in hope, beautiful sister. You are so very loved and treasured. And you are changing lives you didn’t even know existed! To him who is able!

Tonja Eaton

2/27/2018 08:32:09 pm

Shine on, beautiful girl!! You inspire me every day, and I hope you feel the outpouring of love and prayers. Sic 'em!

Margie Gray

2/28/2018 08:58:45 am

Rylie, you give so many of us strength. Your beauty shines from your heart out... thank you for your wisdom.... your blog.

Hannah Jackson

2/28/2018 04:18:18 pm

Hi Rylie, I found your blog through the post on Baylor’s Instagram page, and I was in your exact situation 6 years ago. I was 18, diagnosed with lymphoma, and about to attend Baylor as well. Although my attitude wasn’t the best, Baylor changed my life and my perspective on what really important and now I can look back and see that cancer was a part of God’s plan for me and that if it had not happened I wouldn’t be in this place I am today, which is an amazing place. I graduated two years ago and I miss Baylor and Waco (although I never thought I would say that) everyday! Sic ‘em!
P.S. if I could say anything to my freshman self it would be to take advance of the free services and facilities Baylor offers!

Sara Pavone

2/28/2018 05:27:09 pm

Wow, Rylie! You are absolutely beautiful without hair! I think you should consider keeping it that way after you are cancer free. You are gorgeous inside and out. Izzy sends a hug...she asks about you every day when Mr. Pavone and I check your blog for updates. Stay strong. :-)

Sherron Boyd

3/1/2018 07:53:50 am

What a spokesperson for Godly values you have become! I wish you could give a "wisdom infusion" to 95% of American women! Praying for you and all who love you.

Kristin Elder

3/1/2018 06:29:09 pm

You are amazing, beautiful, and you have many prayers with you and surrounding you. Much love.

Carol Clark

3/1/2018 11:16:56 pm

Rylie, there is a phrase that appears frequently in the Bible: "And It Came to Pass." Keep in mind that losing your hair is only temporary. Additionally, the hair loss means that the chemo is working!

YOUR CART

February 26th, 2018

Leave a Reply.

Author: Rylie York

Categories