Rachel has been very secretive about her condition. She has not wanted anyone to know that she has alopecia other than her family, and she has never wanted to talk about it. She has been very happy with her wig that is attached with medical grade adhesive. I think it has allowed her to just forget that she is bald and allowed her to feel like everyone else.

Then, she started losing her brows and lashes. The kids at school started asking questions which she fielded without telling anyone about her condition. I tried to encourage her to talk about her condition with others, but she just wasn't ready.

Two weeks ago, a few kids started a rumor at school that Rachel had cancer. This led to several of them trying to pull off her wig as she walked through the halls. Fortuneately, the adhesive held firm despite her hair being given some very firm tugs. Rachel was in tears, of course, and I was furious. My first thoughts were to show up with police and have the little culprits arrested for assault. My husband talked me out of that course of action.

I found this site and started reading about similiar situations happening to other members here. I read many blogs and discussions about how healing it was to share with others about alopecia. I read many of these discussions to Rachel. She decided that now was the time for her to come out of the closet and trust her friends with her secret.

We went to school the following day and met with her principal and one of her favorite teachers. We all decided the best course of action was to have Rachel speak in front of her class about alopecia. The kids responded wonderfully. They had lots of questions which Rachel answered and some of them shared that people in their family had alopecia also. Rachel said that lunch that day was a little hard, because the kids who started the rumors and had pulled her hair were angry that they had got in trouble. These kids, unfortuneately, were not a part of the class that Rachel spoke in front of.

Now, Rachel wishes she would have talked about it sooner. She has been accepted by the kids, just as if she didn't have alopecia. In fact, she says she would have liked to have talked to the whole school about it. She might still do this if it works in with an assembly the school has.

As her mom, it has given me alot of peace. I was so worried about her mental well-being. I didn't think it was good for her to keep it inside and never talk about it. The way the kids and teachers have responded to her has restored my faith and trust that the majority of people are good, caring, and accepting of people living with differences.