Cuts For A Cause In Seymour

PHOTO: LIANA TEIXEIRAThe fresh scent of shampoo filled the air and the roar of blow driers echoed as Kim Outlaw walked into the Oxford Academy of Hair Design in Seymour last month. 

The normal buzz of the salon was focused on Outlaw that day — as each clip and cut helped raise money for the 28-year-old Oxford resident’s battle with brain cancer.

Oxford Academy of Hair Design raised $1,100 for Outlaw at the cut-a-thon on May 29. 

It’s so mind-blowing how many people offer to do something that could support me, and then see people who go to actually support it,” Outlaw said.

Outlaw, a paraprofessional at the Quaker Farms School in Oxford, has been battling a brain tumor since 2009. 

Word of her illness has spread throughout town, where she is known in the school system and as a lifelong resident. 

The Diagnosis

Outlaw’s ordeal started in 2009, when she began having terrible headaches.

Outlaw’s doctor thought she was suffering from migraines, but the medicine he prescribed did nothing to improve her constant pain. After visiting a neurologist, she received the bad news.

That’s when my doctor, the one who referred me, called me that day, and he said that I need to come in and bring family,” Outlaw said. He told me that I had a brain tumor.”

Ten days after her diagnosis, Outlaw had surgery, and doctors were able to remove a considerable amount of the tumor. Nine months of chemotherapy treatment followed.

Her condition was stable for a while, but doctors later discovered that the tumor had grown.

To make things worse, the remainder of the tumor is located in an inoperable area of Outlaw’s brain, she said.

If you were to try to remove it, it would leave you with such severe deficits,” said Outlaw.

Outlaw is not left with many options when it comes to further treatments. 

Your body can only go through so much radiation, so they give you the max amount and that’s it,” she said.

Pushing On

By the time Outlaw started her newest chemo treatment in January 2012, the entire left side of her body had completely shut down due to the tumor’s growth. 

I couldn’t use my arm, my hand,” Outlaw said. I was walking with a cane, and I had a really bad limp.”

A white brace is now firmly secured around Outlaw’s left ankle to preventing it from collapsing.

The condition makes it hard for Outlaw to partake in her favorite hobbies: yoga, hiking and photography. 

PHOTO: LIANA TEIXEIRAHopefully the chemo is doing what it needs to do to shrink the tumor to relieve some of that pressure,” Outlaw said.

But she pushes on with other hobbies, like playing fetch with her dogs, Abby, a yellow lab, and Shadow, a golden retriever and chow mix.

Outlaw currently remains on treatment. 

Most of the time, I’m OK with it,” she said. 

And she tries to stay positive.

When I first found out, I made the decision that it’s not going to ruin my life,” Outlaw said. My life is still mine, and it can be a part of my life, but it doesn’t get to say what I can do, or what I can’t do.”

Quaker Farms School

The fact that she has continued working as a paraprofessional with special needs children at the Quaker Farms School is proof of that. 

Outlaw says she loves children, which is why she wanted to become an elementary school teacher. 

Not even a brain tumor would keep her from following her passion.

All the staff members know about her illness, and show her support: They are flexible with her hours and have raised money to help with her medical treatments. 

I work with an amazing staff,” she said.

Though the students know less, they understand she is sick. 

Every once in awhile, she says, children ask why she has a brace on her leg, or why she has a cane. But they do not treat her any differently, she said. 

Outlaw recalled a morning when she returned to school after being absent for a few days:

One of the little boys just goes, Miss Outlaw! Where have you been? I saw you in the newspaper and my mom said you have cancer. That’s just not right!” 

The Cut-A-Thon

Kelly Steeves, the owner of Oxford Academy of Hair, found out about Outlaw’s brain tumor because her daughter goes to school in Oxford. 

She decided to have the salon host the cut-a-thon as its annual service project. 

PHOTO: LIANA TEIXEIRA
Those who came for the Cut-a-Thon payed $15 for a haircut, and 100 percent of the proceeds directly benefited Outlaw. 

For people who already had appointments not affiliated with the fundraiser, $15 of their payment was also donated to the cause.

Some people even donated money without receiving a haircut. 

The cut-a-thon was a festive affair.

Students stood on both sides of North Street, waving signs that read Donate For A Good Cause” to passing drivers, encouraging them to ascend the hill toward the salon. 

We made fliers and signs,” said Kristyn Rosa, an administrator at the school. Kelly had a banner made and put signs around town. All the students and staff hung up signs wherever they lived, and at local stores like Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts. We also used our Facebook page.”

Pink and purple balloons floated throughout the business.

A large banner was strung across the entrance to the salon with a photo of Outlaw. 

It’s one of several fundraisers that have been held to help Outlaw pay her medical expenses. 

Peak Fitness is donating free training to Outlaw.

Outlaw’s friend Jessica Sandor organized a benefit dinner at the Colonial Tavern, raising more than $25,000 from the dinner and raffles. 

There were over 300 items donated, just from people in the community and businesses. There was just amazing support,” Sandor said. 

Outlaw said she is grateful to live in a community that gives her so much support.

It’s unbelievable,” said Outlaw, reflecting on the benefit’s success.

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