One incredible son was determined to make his cancer-stricken mother feel like herself again.
Melanie Shaha, a mother of six, told Today that doctors first discovered her benign brain tumor of the pituitary gland in 2003. Fifteen years later, she lost her hair after undergoing radiation treatment following the third reoccurrence of the tumor.
"Not having hair, you stick out like a sore thumb and well-meaning people can say things that break your heart," she told the publication. "I don't mind being sick but I mind looking sick. I'd rather blend in and not stand out at the store."
Shaha's son Matt, 27, revealed that he brought up the idea of making a wig out of his hair as a joke while having lunch with his mom. "I said, 'Why don't I grow out my hair to make a wig for you?'" he told the outlet.
Check out her wig below:Shaha's tumor was reportedly the size of a plum and affected the functioning of her pituitary gland. The tiny gland is located at the brain base and controls hormones related to growth, stress, and metabolism.
Although she initially didn't want to take her son up on his offer, he insisted and ended up growing 12 inches of hair for the next two and half years.
Matt - whose locks were closest to his mom's in terms of texture and color - cut off his hair in March of this year with the help of his coworkers.
Shaha recalled the moment before Matt had his haircut and said: "We were super-pumped and when they started cutting, we bawled."
According to KSAZ-TV, a local news station in Phoenix, Matt also paid $2,000 for a California wig-maker - Compassionate Creations - to make the hairpiece.
"Had to share these candid shots of our client Melanie rocking her custom-built wig!" the company wrote on its Facebook earlier this month.
"We had the perfect blond supplemental hair in stock to pair with their submissions and couldn't be happier with the results!" they added.
For Melanie, her new hair is a joyful outcome after being told by doctors that she wouldn't lose her hair from the tumor.
"You know, 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," Shaha said. "It's really great."
