Giving cancer patients an earful

For female cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, being robbed of their beautiful hair is oftentimes an added source of suffering.

Two residents of The Villages are putting a little extra sparkle back in the lives of those patients and trying to restore their self-esteem.

Carol Newton and Karen Meglio launched a local chapter of Brighter Lipstick, Bigger Earrings in November 2015.

With the help of six volunteers, they transform beads and broken jewelry into earrings and distribute them to local cancer treatment facilities.

Thus, patients experience joy and happiness during a time of fear and uncertainty.

“These patients endure so much, and the least we can do is give them back some of their dignity,” Carol says.

The free earrings are prominently displayed on artificial pink evergreen trees located in three local infusion centers: the Sharon Morse Medical Center; the office of Dr. Sandeep Thaper, an oncologist in Leesburg; and the office of Lady Lake oncologist Dr. Rakesh Rohatgi.

The designs and sizes of earrings are determined by the creative whims of its maker. Patients can choose their favorite pair before or after receiving an infusion treatment.

“It’s obvious how much patients appreciate them because we constantly have to go to the three locations and replenish the trees,” Carol says. “We feel passionate about making the lives of female cancer patients better.”

To create more awareness about their charity project, Carol and Karen attended breast cancer events, spoke to various clubs in The Villages, and visited local nursing homes.

“We’re always in need of beads, necklaces, and jewelry,” Carol says. “Also, we’re always looking for more volunteers who want to help us make beads, and we would like to have more infusion centers to place our trees so we can reach more patients.”

Pam Sawyer, a breast cancer survivor from Oviedo, formed Brighter Lipstick, Bigger Earrings several years ago after an oncology nurse told her, “Pam, you’ll be fine as long as you wear brighter lipstick and bigger earrings.” She currently supplies handmade earrings to 12 chemotherapy infusion centers throughout Central Florida.

Carol met Karen during a breast cancer fundraising event in Mount Dora.

“I heard what she was doing with the earrings and immediately knew that I wanted to become involved. She directed me to Karen, and that’s how this all got started. We’re having lots of fun. The eight of us get together twice a month to make these earrings.”

For more information, please contact Newton at 352.552.3051.