cate

, Female

Ottawa

Canada

Profile Information:

Relationship Status:
Married
About Me:
i am a 30-something mom to two beautiful boys (my oldest was just diagnosed with Alopecia - he's 6 years old). i have a wonderful husband who makes me feel beautiful everyday.

in the Spring of 1996, i went home for the summer after my college exams were over. my mom noticed that my hair looked thin. i was diagnosed with Alopecia in June of that year. by August, i was completely bald. i had just turned 22 years old.

while my hair was falling out and for the first year i was bald, i thought my life was over. my favourite part of myself had always been my long, blond hair. when it fell out, i didn't know how i could continue without it.

my parents took me to many places to try wigs on, and none of them made me feel better. i had the delusion that i could find something that made me look exactly as i did with my own hair. i soon realized that it was an exercise in futility, and was crushed. i spent so many hours crying in my room, wondering how i could face the world ever again.

i had an idea one day, and asked my incredibly talented mother to crochet me a "skull cap". what she came up with is what i still wear out in public. i've never worn a wig...i just wasn't comfortable with it, and felt more at ease if my baldness wasn't hidden

i made the tough decision to go back to school in September after losing all of my hair. it was one of the hardest things i've ever done, but probably one of the best. i knew if i didn't do it then, i was never going to go back.

i met my husband at college a year later, and the rest is history.

i've come to terms with the fact that i will most likely be bald for the rest of my life. i've tried a few treatments like DPCP, but Alopecia Universalis has a low rate of successful regrowth.
Do you have alopecia?
Alopecia universalis
Are you age 18 or older?
Yes - I am 18 or older
Your Website (Leave blank if you don't have one):
http://monkeysandmarbles.com

Comment Wall:

  • Roger

    Welcome.
  • Lisa

    Hi Cate,
    Glad you found this site too!!

    Lisa
  • Cheryl, Co-founder

    HI Cate, I wanted to welcome a fellow Canadian to Alopecia World!

    How are you?
  • Cheryl, Co-founder

    That's funny. I was just thinking the same thing about you! Beautiful that is. (you have a great smile)
  • kastababy

    Hi Cate, and welcome!!! I can't wait to get to know you!!!
  • Sweet Mary HiLL

    you are gorgeous. and you DO have a great smiLe. gLad you're here :]
  • Katey

    Nice to meet you too! Have a lovely day! :) Peace!
  • Kristen

    Hi Cate - I think not wearing a wig agrees with you. You have such stunning features and it's best not to hide them under hair. :-) I hope to get to know you better! Cheers!
  • LeslieAnn Butler

    Hi Cate,
    I had my eyebrows tattoed a long time ago and I just wasn't happy with them. They didn't look natural (being an artist, that's important to me!) and they faded pretty quickly. I now use "Beau-Ti-Full" temporary "tattoo" brows. They are very natural looking and I just love them. You can find them on the naaf.org Marketplace.
    LeslieAnn
  • Carol

    Hi Cate
    Just popped in to say "Hi". I noticed you're in Canada too! Yay! :)
  • Jennifer Krahn

    Hey there. you are gorgeous! Just wanted to give a friendly hello