July 2026 – Welcome to Samsmom. I'm Heather and this is my journey as we navigate love, loss, rare disease, hope and resilency. Our family carries a POLG-1 genetic mutation that took my two children, Jack and Samantha and most recently, my brother Ryan. It's not an easy place to be, but here we are- with humor, love and grace, here we are.

There is a quote that floats around the internet that says something like, “Losing my hair didn’t make me feel beautiful. It made me feel like a cancer patient.” I imagine that’s true for many people. Hair loss isn’t just about hair. It’s another reminder that cancer has arrived, and it announces itself to the world before you’re ready.

So here we go…..

This is a busy week for Cynde and Pops. On Thursday she’ll have her chemo port placed, and on Friday she’ll head back for another round of chemotherapy. Nurses continue to come and go, monitoring blood sugar, TPN, and her central line, but everything is moving in the right direction, the direction that gives her body the best chance to be as healthy and as strong as possible for treatment.

Tomorrow, Cynde meets with her hair stylist to talk about what comes next.

She’s always said she doesn’t want a wig.

But I also think we have an opportunity to have a little fun with this, because, Lordy…we could all use a little fun.

So we decided to imagine a few possibilities.

The Basics

What if we just embraced it? No wig. No pretending. Just Cynde- beautiful, striking, and strong. Add a colorful scarf, a cute hat, some fabulous earrings, and let her smile do the rest.

Then We Got a Little Creative…

#1 Soft Pixie #2 Sleek Bob

#3 Textured Pixie #4 Soft Layered Bob

And Then…Well…Things Got a Little Crazy.

The best part?

When you’re getting a little “wiggy with it,” you can be whoever you want to be. Cher one day. Meg Ryan the next. Maybe even Dolly Parton if the mood strikes. Whatever makes you laugh. Whatever makes you feel fabulous. Whatever helps you forget, even for a moment, why you’re wearing it in the first place.

This week is another big step in this journey. We’d love your healing thoughts, prayers, good vibes, and positive energy as Cynde heads into another round of chemo.

And if you have a favorite look from our little fashion show…feel free to vote.

Thanks, dear Tribe. ❤️

We wish you a safe, joyful, and festive Fourth of July.

The word independence is a funny one, isn’t it?

Its meaning changes as we grow and as life changes around us. Over the last fourteen years, I’ve watched my Phews become more independent—venturing farther from home, trying new things, and seeing the world through their own eyes. Their independence is exciting, and every day they stretch its boundaries just a little farther.

This past week, independence looked very different.

It looked like coming home.

It looked like sleeping in your own bed, hearing the sounds of your own house instead of the constant buzz of monitors, nurses, and doctors coming and going. It looked like reclaiming a little piece of normal after weeks of uncertainty.

Sometimes independence isn’t about doing more. Sometimes it’s about simply being where your heart wants to be.

Cynde is finally home, carrying a blue backpack that delivers eighteen hours of nutrition each day through her central line. Funny how backpacks are with us through so many seasons of life and through independence. Backpacks take us to school, on adventures around the world, and, in this case, they brought her home.

Of course, no blue backpack of such importance could remain unnamed for long. The Phews and their cousins immediately got to work. Current favorites include:

• Violet Beauregard
• Smurfette
• Bluey McBlueface
• R2-Blue
• Marvin
• Mr. Drippy
• Percy the Pump

The debate continues, so if you’ve got a great name, we’d love to hear it!

Meanwhile, Jim, also known as Papa and my stepdad, celebrated a little independence of his own this week with a brand-new knee. Sometimes we have to take one step back so we can take many more steps forward; this time without pain.

Our bodies are incredible. And so is the medical science that helps us keep living the lives we want to live for as long as we can.

So today we’re celebrating many kinds of independence: a new knee, a blue backpack, the comfort of home, and the hope that tomorrow brings just a little more freedom than yesterday.

Happy Independence Day, everyone. ❤️🤍💙

Month: July 2026

Gettin’ Wiggy With It

Happy Independence Day, Dear Tribe!