And then there was none… hair that is. One year later…

Sometimes I don’t’ know how to react, or what to say, when others try to console me because they think I’m dealing with cancer. They cheer for me in my races, and they tell me I’m beautiful, and they tell me I remind them of their battle. I usually just smile and say thank you. Only when someone directly asks me about my cancer do I correct them and tell them that I have Alopecia. Most of them don’t know what that is, and most of…

I am me, and I am ok.

These were the words that hung above my bed during my teenage years-- Always a reminder to me that I did not need to compete with my peers for acceptance because no matter what, being who I was would always be ok.

Self-esteem and confidence were two things I did not lack as a young woman. Until I was 32 years old. I was in the midst of finishing PA…