1、 Michael FedeleLIEUTENANT GOVERNOROffice of the Lieutenant Governor State Capitol Room 304 Hartford, CT 06106Phone (860) 524-7384 FAX (860) 524-7304Web Address www.state.ct.us/otlg E-Mail ltgovernor.fedelect.gov Dealing With Cancer: A Passion to Help Women Look Their Best During A Difficult TimeIn a
2、 sunny conference room at Norwalk Hospitals Whittingham Cancer Center, Carol Fedele of Stamford is demonstrating how to comb out a lovely shoulder length wig to a group of nine assembled ladies. In front of each of the women is a large, tabletop, make-up mirror and a bright red shopping bag filled w
3、ith cosmetics and brushes from upscale companies like Bobbi Brown, Chanel and MAC. Carol, who is not only the wife of Connecticuts Lieutenant Governor Michael Fedele but also a licensed hair stylist, is tossing out a plethora of helpful hints that only a wig specialist would know.“Acrylic wigs are s
4、ensitive to heat so dont use curling irons on them and watch out because even the dishwasher on the dry cycle or an open oven door can damage them,” she explains. She goes on to suggest that you can Febreeze a wig that smells “less than fresh” and that human hair wigs can be washed with regular sham
5、poo but acrylic need special wig shampoo.Her commentary is upbeat, at times even funny. After all, she is lecturing on fake hair. The ladies are listening intently and when one of the tips elicits laughter, one could almost believe that this was the hair and makeup version of a Tupperware party if i
6、t werent for the fact that these nine women are all wearing scarves or turbans, here at the Whittingham Cancer Center.The occasion is the American Cancer Societys Look Good Feel Better program, which is a community-based, free, national service. LGFB teaches female cancer patients beauty tips to loo
7、k better and feel good about how they look during chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Volunteer beauty professionals, like Carol Fedele, lead small groups, usually about 6 to 10 women, through practical, hands-on experience. Women learn about makeup, skin care, nail care, and ways to deal with ha
8、ir loss such as with wigs, turbans, and scarves. Each woman gets a free makeup kit to use during and after the workshop. “You should think of looking for this wig when you still have hair,” Carol suggests to the nine. “Buy it at your leisure so that youre not worrying about it. And with a synthetic
9、wig, be sure to use a brush without natural bristles; theres too much static. If your wig does get static-y, use a dryer sheet on it.-MORE-Michael FedeleLIEUTENANT GOVERNOROffice of the Lieutenant Governor State Capitol Room 304 Hartford, CT 06106Phone (860) 524-7384 FAX (860) 524-7304Web Address ww
10、w.state.ct.us/otlg E-Mail ltgovernor.fedelect.gov “Incidentally, if its uncomfortable at first, use a little cornstarch. But most important to remember, its only temporary. Youll look back and say, Thats done. So dont get too caught up in it. Youll be over it. Youll be fine.”She then goes on to expl
11、ain how to make a turban out of a t-shirt and how to fashion a wig liner from an old pair of cut-off pantyhose. She gives her feelings on wigs needing a professional trim, shaped to your face, thinned out by someone who knows what theyre doing and doing it a little at a time (wig hair doesnt grow ba
12、ck). She offers the advice that with a doctors prescription, in many cases wigs are covered by insurance. And she does it all with a confident smile and bounce that makes one feel that all really will be right with the world.Carol has been a licensed cosmetologist since 1976 but had not worked as a
13、hair stylist since before her children were born. In 2004, her high school-aged daughter had an after school job working at a wig salon in Greenwich, where she found out about the Look Good Feel Better program. Volunteers for this program must be licensed beauty professionals, and her daughter sugge
14、sted to her mother that she might want to try it. “Ive been blessed not to have to work,” Carol explains. “Now its time and its worthy of all the time I can give it.” She does the Look Good Feel Better programs at four area hospitals: Stamford, Greenwich, Norwalk and St. Vincents and sometimes at th
15、e Norma Pfriem Breast Cancer Center at Bridgeport Hospital. She is also certified to do training for LGFB volunteers. The LGFB sessions are usually every two months. Training is once a year.“Isnt it wonderful?” Carol asks. “The women come in with these big eyes, strained faces. Then they start to re
16、lax, to share with each other. If I were in that position, I would love for someone to make me feel at ease and tell me its going to be okay. Thats what we women do for each other.“Women feel more in control. Once you feel in control, you deal with it so much better. With cancer, theres so much you
17、cant control, so much you cant hide. You want to look like yourself. It really is true, when you look good, you feel better.”Carol recalls one woman who said it was the first time she had been out of bed in a month but she had her make-up on, her wig on. Her friend saw her and said, “Wow! You look g
18、reat!”-MORE-Michael FedeleLIEUTENANT GOVERNOROffice of the Lieutenant Governor State Capitol Room 304 Hartford, CT 06106Phone (860) 524-7384 FAX (860) 524-7304Web Address www.state.ct.us/otlg E-Mail ltgovernor.fedelect.gov “We try very hard to make the presentation attractive.nothing clinical. We se
19、rve refreshments. We dont talk about treatment or medication. The women may interact with each other and discuss those things but its not part of our program. The cosmetology industry donates the packets of high-end make-up, which they get to take home and use.”The American Cancer Societys Wilton of
20、fice has drawers of new donated wigs which are available to anyone whos in need even if the donated wig is only used for an exercise wig or a cooking wig. “Some people lose hair very quickly and have replacement hair quickly. Its a very individual thing,” Carol explains.“Cancer has touched us all,” she says. “You do whatever you can do to help. Theres a very special bond to be had through Look Good Feel Better. Thats what women can do for women.”-END-
