Wacky hairdos liven up life at Sparrow Hospital

MONDAY, May 4 — It can be easy to get caught up in the doom and gloom of the coronavirus pandemic, especially in a hospital filled with sick patients and masked personnel.

But Suzette Holloway, an occupational therapist at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, has found a patch of brightness in the daily grind. And today it’s a scene from Star Wars on top of her head.

“Part of it is staving off the boredom, but it’s to the point now where we just need some smiles and some levity,” Holloway said. “None of the patients here can have visitors. It can be scary enough to come here when you’re not feeling well — especially with everyone hiding behind masks and face shields. This is just about giving people a reason to smile, a positive in the day.”

Holloway — with some help from her colleague Dusty Seta — has been crafting new hairstyles every day before she comes into work. It started with a funky ponytail on top. From there, tall blue spikes have transformed to tight blonde curls and into other snazzy and colorful updos.

Last week, Holloway’s hair was a patch of grass with several garden gnomes. Later this week, she’s planning to have a LEGO surfer riding a blue wave and a miniature tea party. For Cinco de Mayo tomorrow, she’s considering going tropical — with a toucan bird and a few Corona bottles.

It’s not about making light of a pandemic; It’s just about finding that silver lining, she said. And the flashy hairstyles have since turned Holloway into a bit of a hospital celebrity. Patients and coworkers are always curious to see what’s coming up next, she said.

“It started because I needed a way to keep my hair up and out of the way with the face masks and the plastic shields,” Holloway said. “Now it’s just about bringing a little fun into work.”

“If I get home, I can choose to be crabby about my day. That’s an option. My patients don’t choose to be here. They don’t want to be sick. Their families don’t want them to be here by themselves. If I can expend a little more energy to brighten their day, it’s well worth it for me.”