Local Scout redesigns wig room for cancer patients at VHC Health

By Ryan Cole

A local Scout has redesigned the room where chemotherapy patients try on wigs at Virginia Hospital Center, seeking to create a more comfortable and welcoming space.

Seeking to honor one of her past teachers, who was diagnosed with breast cancer, 16-year-old Alia Abbud revamped the room in The Reva and Sid Dewberry Cancer Resource Center where patients go to try on wigs and head coverings.

Abbud completed the project on July 11 with her troop, marking the final step in her journey to become an Eagle Scout, the highest ranking in Scouting America.

“I went to the hospital center last summer to see the wig room, and it was more of a storage space than a salon in a glamorous, comfortable space,” said Abbud, whose mother is a breast radiologist at VHC Health. “I think that’s why I chose to do this project, because I want chemotherapy patients to feel comfortable and to feel like they can still feel pretty with or without hair.”

The wig room now features a leather swivel chair fit for patients of all sizes set in front of a large mirror, as well as organized cabinet space and paintings of different cancer ribbons on the wall. Abbud and her troop spent around six hours on July 11 setting up the room.

Margaret Navarro, who advised Abbud on her project, is a nurse navigator for VHC, meaning she meets cancer patients at the time of diagnosis and then follows up with them throughout treatment to provide support.

Navarro is unaware of any other facility in the region that gives patients free wigs. She says fitting people for wigs helps them feel confident and dignified in the midst of chemo.

“We usually get people laughing in there,” Navarro said. “You know, they’re nervous. They don’t know what to expect. They think they’re not going to find anything that works for them. To have it organized, we can pull out the right shades and the right sizes and the right textures.”

One of the reasons Abbud chose this project was to honor her first grade teacher, who received a breast cancer diagnosis.

“It was devastating to see her go through the process and see that she was struggling to fight cancer, and she was trying to feel good in her way,” Abbud said.

Navarro says the new space has been much appreciated since its installation.

“To have that resource and to have it be a lot more cheery, a lot brighter and a little bit more fun. … I really appreciate getting young blood and new eyes,” Navarro said. “I mean, the older you get, the less cool you get, too. So, you know, I don’t know what looks good in there.”