August 8, 2011
As mentioned earlier, my hair was falling so they gave me a shower cap to contain it. However, by the end of the day yesterday, I looked like half a Charlie Chaplin. Half of my moustaches were gone. So I decided to take the matter into my own hands. I grabbed my beard trimmer and shaved everything in sight. I started with my beard, followed by whatever was left from my moustaches and into the hair on my head. Once done, I looked in the mirror and, honestly, did not recognize myself. I had a “mirror self-shocking” moment. I looked like a Kung Fu Avatar from the Mountains of Lebanon (unheard of). So I washed my baldness and got ready for bed when I noticed that there is a cool current running around my head. All of a sudden my head was cold. Since I had nothing to cover it, I called the nurse and, after she tried to hide her reaction to my new look (should had seen her face), she was kind enough to get me a surgeon’s cap. My head was warm again and I was able to sleep. 🙂
A thought to keep in mind. You know that being in isolation can very easily and quickly get to you if you do not experience some sort of wind of change on a regular basis. Imagine if everyday was the same … that will quickly turn my room into a claustrophobic four walls. Loosing my hair at this stage brought the best change ever. So far every time I look in the mirror or see my reflection on the screen I am shocked. I always find something new. I never realised how large my lips will look once the moustaches are gone. This evening as I am typing my update I noticed that my nose is actually more of an Italian nose than a Lebanese 🙂 – It is so cool to have this new image that keeps me discovering things vs focusing on my four walls. I love it. However, the coolest part (root cause) is that it’s all part of the promises found in Joshua 1:5, I will never leave you nor forsake you – meaning that my Lord will remain interested in my minute details, keeping me busy, sane and full of peace until I am out of this isolation.
Thank you for your faithful prayers for a speedy recovery. I am counting on them.
Sami Lahoud 
samsoum u are a character.. as always your sense of humor is amazing and uplifting.. You are an example of How to count it all JOY when we are faced with trails… Keep up the positive spirit as we keep up the prayes … I am sure that God is doing things in your life more that you can ask for or imagine.. You r a precious child of His and he will continue to watch over u
love u my dear brother
Sami, your outlook is amazing. Even when stuck between 4 walls, you’re finding the blessings in your situation; you’re putting new meaning to the phrase “If life hands you lemons, make lemonade” 🙂 I hope you’ll feel great in body and spirit in the coming days and weeks. Praying everyday….
Sami,
I’m sure you’re an extremely good-looking bald Lebanese-American with an Italian nose and big lips. If there could be such a thing.
I’m praying for God to give you endurance inspired by hope in your Lord Jesus Christ.
I love you brother.
Jeff said, “It’s not just Italian, it’s Roman!” But he pronounced it more like “roaming” as in all over your face due it’s prominence. No, really, he said it, he did! You can’t make this stuff up.
Hey dad, we’ve all been waiting for “the bald” moment and here it came :). Can’t wait to see you on skype (I wonder how differnt you’ll look?) :).
Love you and can’t wait to see you!
❤ ❤ ❤ (Hearts)
Cousin Habibi , i have been following reading your blog from The begining and i see myself every morning waiting to read you with amazement and respect,,, i think of you and pray god to give you strength and keep this great attitude… İt has been so so long since i saw you and when i saw youre picture on Lamia s wall i remembered the only cousin who made me so much laugh …. By The way i hope U remember
Lov U cousin … Roudi
انتظارا انتظرت الرب فمال الي و سمع صراخي
I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
+انتظري الرب يا نفسي واذكري جوده لا تنسي
فذاك بحبه الأبدي لك اليوم وكذا الأمس
القرار : انتظري الرب يا نفسي يسوع قريب
يميل إليك ويسمعك كذاك يجيب
+ انتظري الرب ورحمته يريك عظمة قوته
وإن تظنيه توانى فذاك للخير بحكمته
+انتظري الرب فلم يخجل من نظر إليه ولم يفشل
فالوجه أنار ورفعه وأعطى بفيض من يسأل
+انتظري الرب وأناته تنالي فيض بركاته
في وقته حتماً سوف يجيب طلبة بار في صلواته
آمين فآمين
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKVPOeNxQVE
The song by Lydia Shadid
Khalo, the fact that you are blogging about this means only one thing….we need a picture!!! 😛 Love your updates…and love you more, my Khalo! Praying for you every second of the day! Our God is greater!
Dear brother Sami,
it is truly an honor to have met you after all what i had heard about you from Basim, You are being a living testimony and a blessing to our Church in Jabal Amman, I give them kind of an update from your blog on weekly basis, just before we start praying fervently for you! To be honest with you, with your high spirit and incredible sense of humor, i believe that you are the one who should be praying for people and teach them what real JOY in the Lord means 🙂
You know what? WHEN you are fully healed and recovered, stand up comedy should be your day job 🙂
You are in our daily fervent prayers!
Love you brother!
Rami
أخي العزيز سامي
صدقني يا أخي ان الله معك والسيد المسيح (ع) والسيده مريم العذراء
أنك أنسان رائع وحنون وقلبك يملؤه الأيمان بالله
أخي العزيز ستزول هذه الشده في القريب العاجل بأذن الله الواحد الأحد الفرد الصمد وستخرج منها بعزيمه أكبر
دعواتنا اليك ليلا ونهارا مستمره أن يمن الله عليك بالشفاء العاجل
خاصة ونحن في شهر رمضان المبارك وابواب السماء مشرعه بالدعاء لكل الأخوه
هناك من سافر الى سوريا ليدعو لك في مرقد السيده زينب عليها السلام ويتمنى من الله ان يشفيك ويعافيك حتى تعود الى اهلك سالما غانما مشافى معافى بأذن الله
دعواتنا اليك وللعائله الكريمه
I have a lot to learn from your attitude & faith.
you are in my prayers daily
BTW, I used your entry to encourage a co-worker this Am. God is doing GREAT things through you SAMI, stay strong.
Sami as we were praying and interceding for you this morning, this thoughts came to my mind, enemy won’t fight a weak person, and because of your potential building your Daddy’s kingdom he will try you in every way, but know that Sami you are a child of almighty God. you are healed by his striped the miracle in you has happened it’s just a matter of time , I know what you going thru is big but guess what your father in heaven he is bigger and the good news is he has defeated sickness and all situations on Calvary , Sami we speak health to your body now we speak and believe for new cells to take place in your body in the name of Jesus who has made it all, Sami you are a victor not a victim you are strong in the lord your able to defeat not just sickness but anything comes against you Because of his promise no weapon formed against Sami will prosper , I believe it and declare it in the name of almighty God . We love you so much and praying for you every single day. David, Mila and Daniel
Check this out: http://www.imawitness.com
Sami,
Your perspective and faith are indeed inspiring, and your well of caring friends and family is deep. So drink to your heart’s content! Get well soon, my truck is dirty and you still owe me a car wash….
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Dearest Sami,
We love you and continue to learn from you. God is the only reason behind taking a very difficult situation and turning it into a source of laughter. He is the source for every bit of joy and peace that you are reflecting to others. This is the assurance that He is present with you in that isolation room and if He is with then nothing else matters
We continue to pray and lift you up to the heavenly throne and our trust is in a mighty and powerful healer
Peace and Love in Him
Sami
We are speechless and amazed of the way God is holing you up high in the midst of uneasy trial.
We believe on the good foundation you talked about and we are proud of you.
Just to let you know that every time we read your blog you give us a bigggggggg smile and a great lesson.
We love you so much and praying for complete healing from who is able to do more and above what we ask for.
Be strong, he will never leave you nor forsake you. Praying for you daily. Love Armiya and Laila
Sami Habibi,
A book should be written about you and your faith, and be distributed to every atheist in this world… Amazing it is, what the power of faith can do to a human being!!!
Keep teaching us my Brother.
Love you,
The Lahoud’s of Miami 🙂
Sami,
The only explanation that can be given to how you are able to laugh at loosing your hair and to find some humor in it, is that you have a “special power” within you. You are a true example of the verse “The Joy of the Lord is my strength”. May God bless you more and more and use you for his glory in the midst of this storm. He is with you and is giving you the strength you need each day. Stay strong! We are praying!
My brother, my brotha.. you are cracking us all up with laughter! I almost had a wreck reading this blog w/driving and LMBO about the “Kung Fu Avatar” remark. You’re in the hospital, supposedly sick *(I know our God has a sense of humor, HE has given you a double measure), but you are encouraging ev1 and I do mean EV1. I must agree with the brother above Ramsi H, that you should be praying for us based on the Spirit you have in the midst of this trial. Of course, you may not be sick.. in the way GOD looks at things; this could be another of his miraculous works, because Miracles are happening all around U (us). In his strength, keep on standing!!