With Hilary Spring facing a year of treatment for breast cancer, her coworkers at Glitz Salons are helping the best they can.
‘Flowers seem really insignificant right now,? said Glitz owner Cherie Barnett who is organizing a cut-a-thon fundraiser for Spring, Sunday, April 26, 4 p.m., at the Orion Township Glitz, 4868 S. Baldwin Road, where she works.
‘She’s one of us, she’s our girl. It will be a family gathering as far as we’re concerned.?
Spring was diagnosed with breast cancer Jan. 20, when she was 22 weeks pregnant. She is now about 32 weeks along.
‘It’s going as well as it can,? she said. ‘A lot of people don’t know I’m undergoing treatment.?
Spring wears a wig because of chemotherapy, which is of a type that shouldn’t harm the baby. Doctors are set to induce delivery in a few more weeks, then she will receive more chemo as well as radiation treatments.
‘The baby seems fine,? said Dr. Tim O’Neill of Independence Township, Spring’s brother-in-law. ‘But she faces a long road ? about a year and a half of treatment.?
Medical bills will amount to more than $100,000, O’Neill said, adding ‘insurance only covers so much.?
Spring lives in Waterford with her husband, Jason, and their son Camden. Her mother, Nancy, is a 10-year cancer survivor.
‘No one thinks you can have cancer at my age,? said Hilary, 30. ‘But I still checked. You never know. I was in the shower, and I thought, what’s that? That wasn’t there before.?
‘Breast cancer affects one-eighth of all women in this country,? O’Neill said.
After talking to her husband, an intensive care nurse at St. Joseph’s hospital, and to her brother-in-law, Spring had the lump checked out.
‘I thought it might be a cyst, but wanted (her) to double check,? O’Neill said.
Doctors diagnosed the tumor and removed within a week.
At the cut-a-thon, all proceeds from the fwill be donated for Springs’s medical bills, Barnett said.
‘People will receive the full Glitz experience ? consultation, shampoo, cut, style,? she said. ‘We’ll charge full price, and all of it, plus tips, will be donated.?
Service starts at 4 p.m. and will continue as long as needed, she said.
‘We want to take the edge off their bills so they can concentrate on what needs to be concentrated on, take away as many worries as we can, the best way we know how,? she said.
For more information, call 248-393-4500.