Hey, I am not sure if we have talked before, but I am from Manitoba and would love to help your daughter with anything any time.. I feel very comfortable with my alopecia and really want to help others feel the same. :) tell her to keep her chin up and she is beautiful

Hi! I'm Charity. I'm also from Winnipeg, and would LOVE to see a support group happen. Even if it's not a support group, I would like soooo much to meet people that can relate to me. I'd love to meet your daughter if you'd be okay with that. I'm 18 years old, and I got diagnosed with alopecia when I was 15 and a half. I now have full blown alopecia universalis. I know young girls can sometimes look up to "teenage girls" and maybe just seeing someone else who's struggled with it would be good for her? Sort of like a mentor maybe. Also I have a 9 year old sister so I'm good with kids her age. Message me back!

Oh, my last bit of advice...advice that would have helped me tremedously...never let your daughter see you upset about her AA. Although, you can feel helpless as a parent...please never let her see it or hear you speak about it to others in a negative way. Sometimes words and actions stick with kids in ways parents never expect.

...in one of your posts you said that your daughter doesn't want to wear her wig. I can also emphasize with this...they are hot and sweaty! :) A medical hairpiece isn't like an IPOD, so when kids beg for this and don't wear it...dont' sweat it. They're just sorting things out on their own. Good for you for supporting her either way. You're really giving her many advantages in coping with AA.

...My parents certainly didn't make it easy on me. They are very much into how things look and it was apparent to me, even as a child that this upset them very much. Sometimes even more than it upset me. It was very difficult to know that the people you are closest to were even repulsed by your lack of hair and the effects were long lasting. I didn't date until after university until my aa went into remission. I'm now completely bald and am not ashamed to hide from my parents. Being an adult, I think too bad for them if they don't want to look at me without hair...

Hi Tracy,
I read through your posts and I'm sorry to hear about your daughter's struggle with AA. I was 12 when diagnosed and went through the same thing as a teenager. It's not easy to deal with alone - and that's what you feel like as a child with AA. I hope you were able to find others who have come out of hiding. I wish I knew of others my age when dealing with AA as a teen. Hopefully, because your daughter is 8 her classmates, friends and others can help normalize her experience for her so she can learn to build her confidence. I think you're doing all of the right things as a mom trying to support her.

Hi Tracy,

Just logged on for the first time in, my goodness, months...and months...and noticed the message you left on my wall. Good to meet you! I live on Vancouver Island with my hubby and wee ones. Your daughter is just a bit older than my oldest.

Please tell her that she's beautiful, btw. I enjoyed looking at your family photos. You have a gorgeous clan there, Tracy!

Janna

Hi Tracy, how are you and your daughter doing. I read your blog and you seemed a bit down and wanted to pop by and say hi. Unfortunately, there is more unknown then known when it comes to treating Alopecia. We need to stay strong for our children so they can grow up with confidence and feel comfortable in their skin. I hope you can find a support group in Canada that will give you the support you and your daughter need right now. If you daughter would like a pen pal going through this as well let me know. Sam is 7.5 and she loves to write and have pen pals...((HUGS)) Cindy

If the street is grandmont I live just off that street,,,can't wait to get together..I am on mat leave so anytime is a good time, my husband is excited too.