Harold Brock has lung cancer. He was diagnosed in October. Harold’s wife, Ruby, has lung cancer, too. She was diagnosed two weeks ago.
Before Ruby’s diagnosis, she was taking care of her husband and his cancer. She was giving him diabetes medicine and preparing timely meals – doing the things a devoted wife will do.
Then she was diagnosed. She learned she has a more aggressive form of lung cancer than her husband. He is having chemotherapy. She will require chemotherapy and also radiation. Soon.
The Brocks’ daughter Marlena, who lives in Habersham County, hasn’t been surprised by her mother’s care for her husband – “doing what a normal wife would do.” What did surprise Marlena was her mother’s reaction to the medical treatment she herself was facing: chemotherapy and radiation. The radiation would make her hair fall out.
“It was amazing that she would think of someone else during this time,” Marlena said.
“She didn’t even think about being sad. She was excited to be able to give to others.”
The giving that Ruby was excited about was her hair. Since she was going to lose it from radiation, if she had it cut now, it could be donated – to Locks of Love. Locks of Love is a nonprofit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children. Even donations of grey hair are accepted to support the project. Ruby can donate ten inches of hair.
“My hair is a spiritual thing,” says Ruby.
”The Bible says a woman’s hair is her glory,” she said, “and I feel like now I can glorify someone else”
Ruby’s husband Harold is pleased that Ruby chose to donate her hair. With her recent cancer diagnosis, Harold considers it a privilege to be able to drive her to appointments and medical treatments. She took care of him for a long time, and now he is taking a turn caring for her, he says.
Ruby Brock had an appointment Wednesday.
It was at The Strand Salon in Toccoa.
She got a haircut.
Marlena Brock says her parents are hoping to see their first great-grandchild, due on Dec. 3. Their healthcare is expensive, so there is a benefit account at Habersham’s South State Bank in the names of Harold and Ruby Brock . Donations to that account will help them with expenses.
