Crisp Regional Hospital to implement hair-preserving tech for cancer patients
Published 2:26 pm Thursday, February 19, 2026
Crisp Regional Hospital plans to employ a new cold cap technology to help cancer patients retain their hair. For many, hair loss is a visible sign of the trials chemotherapy inflicts on patients during the process of cancer treatment. However, with new technology, hair loss can be reduced or prevented.
Christina Bray, director of oncology, outlined the efforts behind bringing the tech to Crisp Regional Hospital. The project, which started late Sept., is still in the implementation phase, with a training session planned for Feb. 25. The oncology department has received the unit and is still waiting on the caps to be delivered.
Bray shared how the technology works. “The cold capping shrinks the blood vessels at the hair follicle so that the chemotherapy doesn’t get to the hair follicle, so the patients are able to keep their hair through certain types of chemotherapy.”
Previously, patients had to purchase expensive kits and change out dry ice. Once the new system is in place, Crisp County Regional’s new portable machine can cool caps donned by patients. To work, patients will be required to wear them during chemo, and two hours afterward.
The Cordele Dispatch reported last year on how the Melody Godfrey Agency for Country Financial helped raise funds for the Cooler Heads system during their event, Light it Up Pink.
Godfrey was a key inspiration for Bray to pursue the system. “I went that night to her event and spoke about the Cooler Heads project, not really knowing how the community would respond,” Bray says. She wasn’t even sure it would be practical. “I was kind of afraid that maybe we wouldn’t raise enough money for it, because it was a large project. The unit alone is about $14,000.” In addition, $1,400 kits are required.
However, the community turned out. Not only did Godfrey lend support, but Lisa Fallaw, with Three’s Company, joined in. Crisp County Power also raised funds by hosting a golf tournament.
Bray was encouraged by the support from so many in the community. “When I looked at this project, I thought, this is going to be too big. It’s going to be too much. I can’t ask the community to do this. And they did it.”
