GRIEVING AND GIVING
Husband, son donate hair in memory of Susie Richardson
When Warren police officer Randy Richardson’s wife Susie was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of appendix cancer last year, he and his 16-year-old son Nathan made a deal: They vowed not to cut their hair until Susie beat cancer.
Susie Richardson died March 23, just 10 days after her 48th birthday, from complications of the disease.
“She took a turn for the worse on Feb. 7,” said Richardson. “She was severely lethargic and I took her to the hospital where they discovered she had a perforated bowel. She came home to hospice care.”
Amid the family’s grief at losing a beloved wife and mother, Richardson and his son decided they wanted to honor Susie and help others by donating their hair to Maggie’s Wigs for Kids in St. Clair Shores. The organization provides wigs for children who have lost their hair due to cancer.
“My last haircut was in July,” said Richardson. “We were going to grow our hair until she beat cancer but unfortunately she succumbed to the disease instead. So we are going to donate our hair as well as make a cash donation to Wigs for Kids and to the American Cancer Society in her name. Susie did not just give up and I want people to know that.”
Richardson, who has been on medical leave since July 2021 due to back surgery, was sitting by his wife’s bedside in their Macomb Township home on March 23. She had been having breathing issues since the previous day and Richardson was trying to ensure she was as comfortable as possible. When it came time for him to leave for baseball practice at Notre Dame Prep High School, where he is a junior varsity coach, Randy kissed Susie and she said “good-bye.”
“She said good-bye and she never says good-bye,” said Richardson. “I almost did not go to baseball, but after sitting in my car for awhile and thinking about it I decided to go.”
No sooner had Richardson
Amid the family’s grief at losing a beloved wife and mother, Richardson and his son decided they wanted to honor Susie and help others by donating their hair to Maggie’s Wigs for Kids in St. Clair Shores. The organization provides wigs for children who have lost their hair due to cancer.
gotten to the ballfield when he got a phone call from a family member who was with Susie.
“She had taken her last breath,” said Richardson. “At least I got the last kiss she promised and I’m thankful that she is no longer in pain.”
The Richardsons had been married for 29 years and had been together for 34. They met when Randy was 17 and Susie was 14.
Less than a month after losing his longtime love, Richardson is a ball of emotions. He is angry, exhausted, heartbroken and also thankful. During the past eight months of turmoil, the Richardsons have received a tremendous amount of support from the community. Randy is amazed and humbled by the extreme generosity of people who understood that with neither he or Susie able to work and with medical bills mounting, financial help was needed.
The baseball community from Notre Dame Prep and Marist Academy helped with groceries including a $500 gift card for Vince & Joe’s Gourmet Market and showered the family with cards, emails, and prayers. The Dakota High School community gave financial support and made sure that the Richardsons were able to enjoy the Christmas holiday.
“We would not have had a Christmas if it were not for them,” said Richardson.
The Richardsons had been married for 29 years and had been together for 34. They met when Randy was 17 and Susie was 14.
“My savings account was gone by last October.”
The Warren police and fire departments, Clinton Township Police, Macomb County Sheriff’s Department, Sterling Heights police, Chesterfield Township police, Gardner White Furniture, Warren City Council, the Warren Fraternal Order of Police, the Firehouse Pub in St. Clair Shoes, and the Farmington Hills Police Benevolent Association were among the many communities from which the Richardsons received support.
A spaghetti fundraiser in January hosted by Richardson’s children — Stephen, Amanda and Nathan — was attended not only by Warren residents but by people from other cities who did not even know the family but heard their story and wanted to help.
“I am going to have to pay this forward until the day that I pass,” said Richardson. “If all of these people were not there for us we would not have anything right now. Saying thank you is nowhere near enough.”