Alopecia World
kastababy
45, Female
Nashville, TN
United States
Profile Information:
- Relationship Status:
- Single
- About Me:
- I'm a walking contradiction -- I'm peacefully violent, a popular nerd, wickedly innocent, and loudly quiet...in other words, I know how to make myself stand out in a crowd. I have an opinion about everything, and have an endless thirst for knowledge. One of these days I'm going to take over the world, but I have yet to come up with what I want to do when I get that small task completed. (That, and I haven't found a good sidekick yet to drive the getaway car!) I have decided that this year is the year that I start writing more in the hopes that I finally get a story published!!! Now that Barack Obama has been elected President, I'm content to stay in the good old USA for a little while longer, although I still have my escape plan to Canada in a secure location in case things change. I'm political, controversial, well-read, stubborn, opinionated, and determined to make an impact on the world, and maybe leave it a little bit better than it was when I entered it. I'm always updating and changing things, so keep checking out my page often!
About my alopecia: I was bald as a baby, and my hair didn't really grow in until I was about 2 years old, so it's impossible to say if I had alopecia then or not. However, after my hair did grow in, my mother noticed two bald spots when I was 4 years old. One was the size of a dime, the other was the size of a quarter. When she realized that I wasn't cutting plugs out of my hair and it wasn't coming out on my pillow or in the hairbrush, that was when we started going to the doctors. I wasn't officially diagnosed with alopecia areata until I was 6 years old; by that time, I was in the 3rd grade and totally bald. I stayed that way, albeit with brief periods of partial regrowth, until I reached high school. My hair started falling out again when I was a freshman in undergrad, and it has been persistent AA with brief periods of AT and AU. It's been that way ever since.
As a child, I was very comfortable with being bald, because I had two parents and a grandmother that went above and beyond to make me comfortable with myself and stress to me continually that I was beautiful inside and that being beautiful inside would translate to being beautiful outside; perhaps it is because of this that I have become somewhat of an overachiever -- not only do I have to be successful at whatever I do, but I have to excel in it. However, as an adult, the blind confidence bordering on arrogance that was so much a part of me has gradually disintegrated. I have become less sure of myself and depressed at times because I have felt the hurt and rejection that comes with not being appealing to most men. I have lashed out at the people who have supported me the most, because I feel sometimes that I was misled into believing that at some point I would outgrow alopecia, but like Krazy Glue alopecia is stuck to me and won't let go, and that fact has been more crushing than anything I have felt in a long time.
After nearly 3 years living and working in Atlanta, GA and Memphis, TN, I returned to my hometown of Nashville, TN in September 2008. Living away from home completely on my own really forced me to become more independent than I ever would be had I remained in Nashville. It has also enabled me to view alopecia with new eyes that haven't been colored by the opinions of my friends and family closest to me. Since discovering Alopecia World, I have found more healing and acceptance in the nearly 4 years of the site's existence than I did in 27 years of searching, for which I am eternally grateful!
My purpose on AW is to motivate and inspire others -- it is my hope that in leading by example and living my life to its fullest potential in spite of societal views on alopecia, bald women, and women of color specifically, others will come to their own acceptace of alopecia in their lives and let their beautiful, vibrant selves shine through! - Do you have alopecia?
- Alopecia totalis
- Are you age 18 or older?
- Yes - I am 18 or older
- Your Website (Leave blank if you don't have one):
- http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/kastababy
Heather L
Oct 18, 2009
chip
thank you!!
Oct 25, 2009
chip
Oct 30, 2009
Cheryl, Co-founder
Nov 6, 2009
Heather L
Heather
Nov 8, 2009
JeffreySF
Hugz,
Jeffrey
Nov 8, 2009
JeffreySF
Big hugz,
Jeffrey
Nov 26, 2009
JET
-Jet
Dec 1, 2009
JeffreySF
Dec 14, 2009
JeffreySF
Leo and I are doing great!
I know how tough it is starting over. Been there, done that and bought the t-shirt...Really I did it and so can you. I know what a strong person you are!
How's the new place? You're in TN right?
Merry Christmas and I'll talk with you soon!
Love you,
Jeff
Dec 18, 2009
Janna
The girls are doing great...thank you for asking :) They are really enjoying being big sisters and are all hyped up for Christmas. We named the baby Fiona, which is a name that Graeme's mother has always adored, with the middle names of Glenn (after Graeme's dad, who passed away just weeks before she was born) and Marie (after my grandmother, my mother and myself). She is a perfectly healthy, happy little girl. Really beautiful - she has the most amazing smile!
Oh hey! I gave Lynnea her first haircut the other day. The two patches of regrowth that she has were beginning to go rogue, so I had to trim them back into submission! lol She quite enjoyed the process, and now she looks much tidier, and I have an envelope to put in her baby book!
How have you been? Are you all set for Christmas? I'll have to take a peek at your blog and catch up on the latest Kasta news...
All the best to you, my friend!
Janna
Dec 18, 2009
JeffreySF
Jeffrey
Jan 1, 2010
JeffreySF
Whats up Girl?
How you doing?
Jeffrey
Feb 12, 2010
JeffreySF
Congratulations on your degree!
I'm sorry you took a tumble and hurt your ankle.
All is good here with me and Leo.
Just got everything booked for NAAF. Do you think you might go this year?
Hugz,
Jeffrey
Feb 12, 2010
JeffreySF
Thats cool you are coming this year. Finally!!!
We are staying at the Hyatt. It's only $100 a night with the NAAF group rate.
Jeffrey
Feb 12, 2010
Carol
Mar 29, 2010
Clayton
Hell, even Bob Dylan, who wrote the damn song, stopped performing it after Jimi's version! LOL
Be well......
Apr 1, 2010
JeffreySF
What's up?
All is good here. Workin', eatin', playin', and sleepin'.
You're staying at the Hyatt right?
Jeff
Apr 14, 2010
JeffreySF
I'm so glad to hear you are staying at the Hyatt. I dont think any work will be permitted! (If I can help it)
Mmmmm King ribs huh? Yum!!!
Jeff
Apr 14, 2010
JeffreySF
This is most excellente!!!
Julia from Louisville? Is she your roomie?
Yay!
Jeff
May 7, 2010
JeffreySF
How mant Conf's have you attended? This will be my 3rd in a row of forever....
May 7, 2010
JeffreySF
Fasten your seatbelt... you're about to take the ride of your life!!!
Jeff
May 7, 2010
Roger
May 8, 2010
Clayton
I'll bet you had a wonderful time, but I won't press for details. I'm sure you'll get around to posting about it in your own time. Levert is doing his thing in the background, what a loss, huh?
As always, it was great hearing from you and I'll be sure to stay in touch. Be well, One.
Jun 30, 2010
Robbi
Jun 30, 2010
JeffreySF
I'll keep ya posted.
Hugz!
Jeffrey
Jul 11, 2010
Ade
Jul 18, 2010
Cheryl, Co-founder
Oct 15, 2010
Norm
Oct 31, 2010
Angela Christine Garrison
Nov 3, 2010
Janna
Just signed on after yet another long absence (life with three little ones, now... and no social life, real or virtual! lol) and I had to drop a line to my first friend on Alopecia World. Thinking of you!! Hope life is just awesome for you right now.
Janna
Nov 10, 2010
Angie P
Hope you are doing well.
Jan 6, 2011
becky
Jan 21, 2011
Frank Pratt
Feb 3, 2011
Angie P
"I am seriously allergic to other people's bullshit and hangups about my hair (or lack thereof.)" LOVE IT! I truly love your attitude and outlook on life.
Feb 19, 2011
Cheryl, Co-founder
"A very dear friend of mine got married in Memphis yesterday, and she toasted all of the guests that came to the wedding. She told everyone in the room "When I first met YoKasta she had on this beautiful red scarf that covered her head and she looked like such a badass I was afraid to walk up to her. Now I see her walking around with a bare head for all to see and she is the embodiment of a strong, independent woman -- and if I had a tenth of the confidence she has in spite of having alopecia and could rock a bald head the way she does, I still couldn't touch her. It's a privilege to know her." She brought tears to my eyes because I never knew she thought that highly of me, and it was HER wedding day! The moral of the story is we never know whose lives we may touch or how deeply we may touch them; all we can do is be ourselves - whether we look androgynous or not!"
Apr 21, 2011
Cheryl, Co-founder
Apr 28, 2011
Lisa-Lynn Marini
Perhaps with this therapy maybe I could learn just that, I apreciate your comment you are one brave lady!! btw you have a beautiful smile :)
May 4, 2011
JeffreySF
Sat night dance party all airbrushed out!
May 10, 2011
PC
May 21, 2011
Tallgirl
May 22, 2011
Erika Vincent
May 23, 2011
Mandy
Jun 3, 2011
Roger
Jun 5, 2011
rj, Co-founder
Jun 28, 2011
Diana Carter
Jul 1, 2011
Pamela
Jul 19, 2011
Bald
Mais uma vez obrigado por ter aceito o convite.
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Hello, thank you for words and oubrigado for having accepted the invitation of friendship, it really is a great community. I live in Brazil, and I am developing a website about Alopecia, with one of the main groups related to Alopecia here, will soon be working then send you the address to access.
Thanks again for having accepted the invitation.
Nov 5, 2011
Angie
Thank you for accepting my friend request. Whenever I get to reading a few comments around AW, I sometimes come across some of what you wrote; I always enjoy reading what's on your mind. I'll look for you at the July conference.
Nov 5, 2011
Miss Peaches
Thanks for accepting my friend request.Lets Chat soon.
Oct 3, 2012