Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Monique (Mom) on May 20, 2009 at 9:40pm

So true. I tell her everyday she is beautiful! I think a share mix is good.

Permalink Reply by Graeme on August 25, 2009 at 1:17am

My little angel lost her hair at 10months. She just had her 4th birthday a couple of months ago. Last year, she went to our older daughters school class, with her hat collection in a bag, and explained Alopecia to the class. If we are out and she overhears someone mention that she hasn't any hair, she will go tell them all about her Alopecia.
We have always been truthful with her since she first noticed she was different from others, and explained to her why. She may or may not ever grow hair and she knows it. She also knows how much she is loved, and how special she is.
The hardest part of her diagnosis was forshadowing all the hurts our little baby would have to face through life.
Just be strong for them.

Permalink Reply by Shay and my girl Kaleigh :) on August 27, 2009 at 3:10pm

Kaleigh had started natural pageants a few months ago. We plan to continue with those until she says she doesn't want to do them anymore, right now she gets excited when we talk about them. The ones we do are focused on building self esteem and every child leaves with a small crown if they don't win a bigger one. Also, once she is potty trained we plan to put her in some kind of dance/gymnastics class. We may change our plan since this is so new to us but right now when her brother (4yr old) asks why she has a bald spot we just tell him that she has alopecia and he is content with that. When other family members have reacted and not been so accepting about it we have told them that we think this is her gift, that because of what she is going through now she will be able to help tons of children with the same thing when she grows up. That has shut most of them up so far including my mom who thinks it hasn't went away because I don't believe strong enough in the power of healing....I just don't think its helping her self worth for them to talk about it like its a negative thing. We are very cautious with our voice tone and what we say about it in front of Kaleigh, trying to be sure and stay positive. Very hard for me sometimes...I might need to come up with an excuse for crying as some times I break down out of the blue then get over it and move on for a little while longer. We do talk about her self esteem all the time tho, I feel like I can't do enough for it but spoil her rotten! (don't take that advice lol) Shay