Bald Bruci

Travis and Dr. Natalie Bruce.  We love you guys!

This is a picture of our friends Natalie and Travis Bruce (who we affectionately call the Bruci).  I met Natalie about 8 years ago when we both worked at Missouri Southern State University.  We've packed in a lot of amazing/life changing conversations over the years... Usually over a walk, mint Oreos or a chili cheese dog or three: my divorce, my meeting Richard, her adjusting to marriage, my marriage, relocations, pregnancies, births, her father passing away, postpartum depression, Lowe's stuff, more relocations, God talks, dirty jokes, Natalie earning her doctorate, another pregnancy (they are expecting another Baby Bruci in late winter), and now my cancer journey.

The thing about the Bruci, they are there no matter what.  I remember we had a big snow years ago and Richard was away on a business trip.  I heard some weird noise outside of my house at night and I look out the window and see Travis shoveling my drive at 9pm because he knew there was no way I would be able to move my car without the snow removal.  I can count several occasions when I would call Natalie with an emergency (like a chili cheese dog craving) and all of a sudden she would show up at my door willing to help.  These are solid people!

Well, when I shared the start of this journey with Natalie, she responded exactly how I knew she would: with compassion and humor (and I'm pretty sure she brought over mint Oreos).  She wasn't afraid to ask me questions and was completely supportive of my decisions.  When I found the lump in my breast, she was the first person I called over to come feel it, because I knew she would tell me if I were crazy... And I knew I could ask her to feel my boob and she wouldn't think twice about it.  When I called to tell her of the cancer diagnosis, I could hear that her breath was taken away.  She's the type of friend that hurts when you hurt.  She also casually said that if I had to shave my head, she would too.  I didn't think much of it initially, as we were very hopeful that other treatment options would be used other than chemo.  

Fast forward to last Saturday when I suddenly decided to go through with getting my head shaved.  Richard had thought about shaving his head and drove to the salon to surprise me.  I walk in the salon and after I see Richard, I look over and see Travis sitting in Stepheny's chair with a big grin on his face and a big shine on his head.  Now, I know my hair will grow back... Travis, I hope for your sake, your hair grows back, too.

I gave Natalie an 'out' as I know she casually said that she would shave her head weeks ago.  I didn't expect her to follow through, I mean who would actually shave their head for a friend?  Actually, come to think of it, I absolutely expected her to follow through with that promise, because that is who Natalie is.  She puts people first.  Always.  I'm not sure I have ever met a more compassionate person ~ and if you follow my blog, you know that my life is bursting at the seams with compassionate people.  

It's been a crazy eight years Bruci!  Looking forward to many, many more!  In the future, let's hope the only bald heads we see is Baby Bruci's... And maybe Travis's if his hair doesn't grow back!