A BRAVE leukaemia survivor lost her hair for the second time last Saturday, but this time under much happier circumstances. Sara Smith from Firgrove Road in Bordon chopped off her locks to raise money for St Matthew's Church in Blackmoor and managed to raise a huge £725. She said: "Shaving my head is, for me, a celebration of my survival of this terrible disease. Some people have told me I'm brave, some that I'm mad. Whatever I am, this time I am choosing to lose my hair – I am making the decision and I have control of my life." Mrs Smith was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in 1995, aged 30. She was told that without urgent treatment she had just six weeks to live. She underwent four courses of chemotherapy, which included an experimental drug trial. Unfortunately, she suffered a severe allergic reaction to the new drug and as a result of each treatment, blisters would form all over her body – including her eyes. "As with most chemotherapy patients, I lost all my hair and was confined to a wheelchair. I had no choice – all decisions were taken from me. My life was no longer under my control." Mrs Smith spent 12 months in almost constant protective isolation in hospital, during which all visitors would have to gown up before entering. "Isolation was like a prison sentence. It was so difficult being away from my young children, but I was so poorly it had to happen," she said. "I would like to thank my wonderful husband and our fantastic children. They are the reason I am who I am and what I am today. I could never have survived without them. Without their constant love and support, I could never have achieved all that I have. I am so very grateful that I have been given a second chance – having leukaemia really changes you, and your whole outlook on life. "I would also like to thank all those at St Matthew's Church for their support of my family. I have chosen to donate all of the sponsorship from this event to the church to help it continue its wonderful work with supporting the community. My husband Pete and I got married there, and my son Adam is a regular at the church – it was a clear choice".
