Arizona man grows hair out for 2 years to make wig for mom fighting brain tumor

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Son grows out hair 12 inches to make his mom a wig

An Arizona mom lost all her hair four years ago after undergoing radiation. Her son decided to grow her a wig for two years. Credit: Mary Strong and Hannah Brinton

An Arizona mom permanently lost her hair year four years ago after undergoing radiation to treat a reoccurring benign brain tumor. 

Melanie Shaha's son, known for having a full head of strawberry blonde locks, embarked on a two-year journey to give her the ultimate gift: a new head of hair. 

Matt Shaha, 27, who started his mission in early 2020, grew out his hair 12 inches before chopping it off and paying for a company to hand tie a wig. 

Melanie Shaha and her 27-year-old son Matt Shaha.  (Mercedes Berg Photography)

It was a gift the mother of six could never have fathomed.

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"When you wear a hat everywhere, you just stick out like a sore thumb," she said. "I don't mind being sick, but I do very much mind that I look sick." 

Melanie had been battling the tumor on her pituitary gland since 2003. According to the Mayo Clinic, a pituitary tumor forms in the pituitary gland at the base of the brain and can cause changes in someone's hormone levels. 

Although the tumor was benign, "it was in the wrong place and smashes important things, so you can't let it stay there," Melanie said. 

Melanie Shaha and her family before losing her hair to radiation.  (Stacey Hemeyer Photography)

After her first diagnosis, she underwent neurosurgery. Three years later, the tumor returned, and she had to undergo a second surgery.  

In 2017, when the tumor returned for the third time, Melanie said she underwent radiation to keep the tumor from growing, and eventually shrink it. 

However, the Arizona mom said there were lasting side effects. 

"About three months after radiation, all my hair started to fall out, which I didn't know would happen," she said. "And the doctor said it won't come back."

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Matt told FOX Business that the idea of growing out his hair for his mom was always in the back of his mind. 

During one of his school breaks, he recalled turning to his mom and saying, "Maybe I'll grow it for you mom." 

"Then it just kind of like clicked: Well, why don't I?" he added. 

However, he wasn't able to begin growing out his hair while attending Brigham Young University because of the school's dress and grooming standards. 

Matt Shaha chops off his hair to make his mom, Melanie, a wig. (Mercedes Berg Photography)

In March 2020, while finishing the rest of his senior year of college at home due to the outbreak of COVID-19, he was finally able to start.

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"I knew it was a big ask and… there might be a time when it's not practical for his career or with sports or relationship-wise," Melanie said.

Matt Shaha getting his hair cut after growing it 12 inches. (Mercedes Berg Photography)

At the end of March 2022, when the time came to finally cut his hair, Melanie said she broke down in tears. 

"The kindness, compassion and sacrifice from Matt has really been spectacular," she said. "He has shown a lot of love and concern." 

Melanie Shaha and her son, Matt, after he chopped off his hair for her.  (Melanie Shaha)

Afterward, the 27-year-old sent the hair off to Compassionate Creations, a small business in Newport Beach, California, that specializes in building custom wigs for anyone experiencing hair loss. 

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"There are lots of places that you can cut your hair and donate it, but there are very few companies that will take your donated hair and make a wig for you," Melanie said. 

By mid-June, the hair finally arrived and for the first time in four years, Melanie — sporting her son's long strawberry blonde locks — said she looked like herself again. 

"It meant the world to see that project just kind of come to fruition and seeing how well it turned out," Matt said.