Hey Gabe,

Hope you and the family are well.
The whole lot of you have the Alopecia. Pretty wild.

Jeff

Hi Gabe! I hope you and the family are doing well. I was going to write & suggest you contact Jessica, as she also has two kids, one with AU and the other AA, as well as a new baby ~ but I see you are both already in contact which is great!! My parenting journey with AA is just a little different, as the first time around my daughter lost 1/4 of her scalp hair atop her head ~ then it all grew back and stayed for two years (after treating with Roggaine & a steroid cream). This time around, both kids are AA and they (by choice) are treating with shots & Roggaine. I don't know if AA will go away again ~ or progress. Fair warnng: I may be buggingg you and Jessica for advice, etc. ;o) Take care & God bless you & yours!!

Hi Gabe,
How are you today? Sometimes it's harder for the parents than the kids...hope they are doing all right.
LeslieAnn

For what it's worth, Gabe, I had full blown alopecia when i turned 11 (6th grade) and - for a number of reasons I guess - i wore a wig until i was 27. Wow...hard to believe....but it was a different world back in the 70's and even the 80's (pre MJ, i like to say). Anyway, i was a complete jock and played football in to college - all with that ridiculous wig! So when i see your handsome son here, and he's doing what he loves as God meant him to be, I can't tell you powerful and uplifting it is for me (i could only dream of simply being the bad-ass football player, instead of the guy who was afraid to take his helmet off). Can't be easy - it isn't for any of us - but he's already at a point of acceptance that is years beyond mine...and that will only help to further his development and strengthen his sense of self. All the best...

Hi Gabe, I wanted to welcome you to Alopecia World. I can honestly say that we are a great community here and I hope you enjoy the time you spend with us and we look forward to your input. Cheryl, co-founder

Hello...
I know just how you feel in allot of what you said. From the diagnoses to the school experience. I racked my brain wondering what I did wrong or what I didn't do right as well. I searched and searched for the cause...never to find one, or an answer I was happy with. It took a while for me to accept thier condition, I wanted to fix it. School is a whole other experience. It has for the most part been okay, with a few issues with teasing here and there. There seems to always be a couple of kids that are just plain mean. This year for my son has been the hardest so far. He has been teased quite a bit and feels like he has no friends. It breaks my heart. My son is more of the artsie type. He plays the piano and loves to draw. He is really great @ both. I actually just enrolled both of them in Karate, we start Saturday! I thought that it might help them both with self confidence. I think as parents the best thing we can do for our kids with this condition is give them lots of encouragement, let them be themselves, and give them the tools they will need to face this sometimes very cruel world. I am trying. I just had a new baby too! I as well wonder if my new little one will develope the condition or if it was just the combo of me and my ex. I am sorry your youngest is not dealing as well...it is tough. I think my daughter is still a little young to completely understand. Well feel free to vent anytime...it feels good to be able to talk about it, and know you are not alone. I don't know if you have considered attending a NAAF conference, but they are really great. I have taken the kids twice and they loved it. We didn't make it this year since I had just had a baby. We hope to go next year though. You should check it out, I think your boys would enjoy it. Charlie Villenueva with the Bucks attended last year to visit the kids...it was great. Well take care, talk to you soon!

Hi again Gabe! Sounds like you are doing a great job with the boys. It sure is nice to chat with other parents who understand AA. There are so many wonderful parents here who are very honest with information and helpful!! I've finally stopped talking to my co-workers about my kids' AA ~ since I've been lucky enough to stumble upon this website. The co-workers just don't understand, and have that attitude of "its only hair ~ what are you worried about." When it is your kid with AA, sometimes there is very tricky parenting you need to perform. Seems like, until you accept the AA ~ it is like you are the one loosing your hair or really grieving. We love our kids so much, and with AA we are not in control to help ~ and it hurts! So far, my kids' patchy AA is minimal, they are treating with shots every four weeks, and by looking at them you can't tell they have AA (unless a big wind blows up!). Even with the shots, AA will run its course, only slower. The dermatoligst says the kids will be into remission well within a year. We are six months into the shots treatment, and sometimes I wonder if I am only prolonging the inevibility of their hair loss. I know what you mean about wondering what you may have done wrong, as a parent for your kids to have this. It sounds like your family is just as healthy and active as mine!! I'm so glad you have a new wife to help you and the boys through this. It must have been tough going through a divorce, and not trying to worry the kids. My kids didn't really know my brother, but he died last June, and I hide my grief from the kids, worried that stress would cause additional hair loss. On the 4th of July, I drove his ashes back home to our family (four hours away). My husband couldn't go & I just had to do it alone. Between the worry over the kids' AA & grief at the lose of my only brother, I thought I'd have a nervous breakdown, but I made it through it! I guess it is true: What doesn't kill you makes you stronger ;o) You know, if the boys ever decide to try treatment, we got my daughter's hair back last time with a steriod cream & Men's Roggaine (each applied twice daily). Does your son with AA have to clean shave every day? Do you help him shave each time? What kind of shaver do you use? I'm just wondering, in case my son decides to do the same in the future. Well take care Gabe, and write back when you have time.

Hi Gabe,

Welcome to Alopecia World.

Jeff

Hi, Welcome to Alopecia world. I am so glad you joined. I am interested in hearing more about your experience with your 2 children. My son, Adrian was diagnosed with alopecia when he was 5, he is 9 now. He has AU. My daughter started withi it when she was 4 and has had about 2/3 of her hair grow back. She is 6 now. I have not treated my kids at all. Have you tried anything? Welcome again and hope to hear from you soon.