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Comment by Cheryl, Co-founder 2 hours ago

Hi Sheila,  

Thank you for sharing something so tender and deeply personal. Reading your story, I could feel both the weight you were carrying then and the strength you’ve grown into now. The moment you described — shaving your head with someone from this community staying online with you the whole time — that’s exactly the kind of quiet, steady love that has carried so many of us through some of the hardest parts of this journey.

And the way your mother responded… that touched me. There’s something incredibly moving about realizing that your courage gave her peace, even in a moment when you were simply trying to breathe easier yourself. It says so much about the bond you two shared.

I also appreciate you naming support systems, and how important (and sometimes invisible) they are. You’re right — not everyone has someone in their corner, and not everyone knows how to ask. Your reminder is needed. These conversations matter. They open doors. They help someone who’s quietly struggling realize they don’t have to go through this alone.

Because of what you shared, I added a new space in the community for exactly this kind of connection. It’s called “Who’s in Your Corner? A Space to Share, Ask, and Connect.” It’s a gentle place for people to talk about who supported them, the support they need, or even to offer themselves as someone willing to stand with another member. You can find it here:

https://alopeciaworld.com/forum/topics/who-s-in-your-corner-a-space...

Thank you again for trusting us with this piece of your story. It truly does make a difference.

Comment by Sheila Pinder 3 hours ago

First, this site was beneficial when I decided to embrace alopecia and shave my head. There was a member who communicated with me for a week, and the evening I shaved my head for the first time, she stayed online to support me throughout the process. I credit this site and that member for getting me over a hurdle. After I shaved my head, my mother told me she was happy to see me not stressing over hair loss and walking tall with my new look. She died a few months after making that statement. I have never looked back. I shaved my head for myself, but it relieved the stress and sadness that my mother was also carrying. Something I never knew until she made that statement.

Limiting my response to one thing, I would like to see the alopecia community discuss their support systems (or lack thereof) more openly. For those who need a support system, it may be possible to find it here if their need is known. Sometimes we perceive ourselves differently from how others perceive us. Knowing someone cares, even if it is only through a transition, could make a significant difference for someone seeking support.