Shaves head on Facebook
Calling herself “a bald-headed fighting ninja,” Hahnville native Meghan Schexnayder is far from kidding when she’s fighting her third round of cancer.
Schexnayder recently demonstrated her ninja powers.In a Facebook live event, she shaved her hair as she prepared for cancer treatment for the third time. This time, it’s in the bone of her arm, but she’s determined to rise above it.
I want to do it for everyone to see on Facebook live,” she said in an online invitation for everyone to watch. “I want to hopefully inspire someone – anyone – and show that beauty is confidence and it purely shines from the inside.”Schexnayder, a licensed esthetician and makeup artist, invited the world to watch her shave her head to promote donations to her Gofundme account to help her with medical bills, as well as offer inspiration to anyone who felt alone in their struggles.
“I think my friends would say I’m a free spirit,” Schexnayder said. “I’m a gal with a helping heart that loves to see the best in everyone. And last, but certainly not least – a cancer survivor.”
Schexnayder is insistent that cancer will not define her.“It is something I have to deal with everyday, but it is not my ruler,” she said.
Schexnayder has been battling cancer on and off for at least five years.
She was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, which is a rare pediatric type of bone cancer that Schexnayder called odd because she was diagnosed with it at age 24.
“I underwent grueling chemotherapy for about a year and a half in which most of that time was spent in the hospital,” she said. “I had a total knee, femur, hip replacement surgery and also my first thoracotomy (lung surgery).”
She was cancer free.
Only nine months later, she experienced a relapse with cancer in her lung that required her second thoracotomy. It was successful and she was cancer free a second time.
By October of 2016 (2-1/2 years later), she was again diagnosed with cancer, this time in her lungs that required she return to New Orleans.
A lover of traveling, she had been on a yearlong adventure wandering around in the Pacific Northwest.
“I made lots of lasting memories and saw so many magnificent places on my little journey but it’s so nice to be home again with my family, I missed them so much,” Schexnayder said. “My mom, my dad, my sister, my beautiful godchild and my two absolutely adorable foster niece and nephew are here and home is certainly where the heart is and anyone that knows me can tell you my entire heart is my beautiful family.”
She returned to receive treatments and a third thoracotomy, which was successful.
Her latest disheartening discovery was cancer in the bone of her arm and she is awaiting surgery.
“This is now my third time fighting this beast of an illness and I am still determined to kick it for good this time,” Schexnayder said.
Michelle Landry, a friend and director of Revolution Fitness in Metairie, admires her spirit.
“I’ve been friends with Meghan for a couple of years by Facebook and saw what she’s doing,” Landry said. “She posted that her cancer was back and a coworker from St. Charles Parish told me what a fighter she is so we decided to make her a guest of honor.”
Landry, who grew up in Destrehan and recently moved to Luling, is holding a fundraiser for Schexnayder from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. April 22 at the fitness center in Metairie.
“Everything in that video portrayed her,” she said. “She is so sweet, loving and so full of life. It’s been a pleasure getting to know her.”
Despite Schexnayder’s fight, she considers herself lucky.
“My family and I are so grateful and blessed beyond words to have the amazing and continued support we have had through the years on our journey,” she said. “We love all and hope you are all blessed with love, happiness and health. If you are going through tough times, you are not alone. Keep fighting.”
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