A breast cancer survivor in Hot Springs has started a program to help others with the disease find at least one way to feel better about themselves.
The “Scarf It Up!” program collects scarves and hats for cancer patients who’ve lost their hair during treatment.
Paula Tonemah was diagnosed with breast cancer last March. As a Native American, Tonemah says losing her hair did more than just impact her emotionally.
“Hair is part of our spirituality," explains Tonemah. "And I’m a dancer, so I would always braid my hair. It’s a part of who I am, not just who I look like. And, so, to lose my hair was a blow on a lot of different levels…not just my self-esteem.”
Tonemah was overwhelmed by support from her community, Rapid City Regional Hospital’s Cancer Care Institute and the American Cancer Society’s “Look Good, Feel Better’ program – which offered her hats, scarves and wigs.
In an attempt to give back, Tonemah started the “Scarf It Up!” program to collect and donate scarves to cancer patients.
A scarf may seem like something small, says Tonemah, but it can change a person’s life.