Hello to everybody. My name is Mallory Crowner, I am 30 years old and have had some form of Alopecia Areata for the last 13 years. Here is my history in short – I was diagnosed with Alopecia Areata when I was 17 years old (1997). I was a senior in high school and honestly, I was totally devastated by this. What girl doesn’t want their hair for prom? What girl wants to be made fun of because she looks “different”? Please tell me what girl doesn’t want their hair, period. When you find her, I’d like to shake her hand!! Anyway, over the next few months of my AA, I went to dermatologists, I tried natural supplements, I saw different types of docs (medical, holistic, you name it). Nothing provided me with a long-term “fix” to my hair loss problem. Treatments ranged from applying topical ointments, taking pills/vitamins on a daily basis, to having cortisone shots injected in my scalp. Let me tell you THAT is painful. I decided to stop all treatment because nothing seemed to be working for me. I had patchy hair loss then. It progressed in to Alopecia Totalis, but eventually it grew back. In 2003 I started losing my hair again. This time, it was the worst case, Alopecia Universalis. I was a nervous wreck because I was getting married that year. Lucky for me, I had a full head of hair through September. It was falling out worse and worse every day. Eventually my eyebrows, eyelashes, and every other hair on my body disappeared. It was to the point of not being able to hide it anymore and I decided to take matters in to my own hands. In November, my husband Mike shaved my head for me. It was a very emotional experience for both of us. You see, AA doesn’t just affect me…it affects everyone around me. Everyone that loves me. I tried that night to wear a wig and it was THE most uncomfortable thing I’ve ever done. Not only was the wig itchy, but I felt like a complete fake. Because I’m not a fake person, about two hours in to the evening, I decided to take it off. I went to our vehicle, took off my wig, and came back as a new woman. Please, don’t for one minute think that that was easy for me. Even today, 6 years later, I struggle on a daily basis with my hair loss. I have gotten used to the stares, the snide comments, the poking of fun behind my back. Through all of this though, I couldn’t have made it without my parents, my siblings, my husband, and my friends. As strong as they all make me out to be, THEY are all my backbone!!

My friend Amanda approached me one night and asked if I would be offended if she shaved her head. She wanted to shave her head on September 1st, so that she could walk a month in my shoes. And help me to raise awareness. She said that she, her husband Jeremy, and their son Jeremiah were all going to shave their heads and that they were going to try and get as many donations during the month to keep their heads shaved. One thing led to another, several of us took the idea and we all ran with it. We decided we wanted to have an awareness event so that we could educate our community on what this disease is and the effects that it can have on people. On September 1st, we hosted an event on the Eaton County Courthouse lawn. At the courthouse we took donations from people to shave their heads, buy t-shirts from Bald Rules Apparel, and also give money for baked goods. We were able to collect hair from two individuals to donate to Children with Hairloss, a Michigan based non-profit that makes wigs for children who may be financially limited.

I couldn’t believe the amount of people that showed up. I wasn’t sure what to expect, I wanted it to be big, but I certainly wasn’t expecting to see all of the people that showed up!! So many members of my family, my friends, and even strangers, who I did not know, came and shaved their heads. For me, for you, for everybody!! My mom, my dad, my sister, my grandmother, my husband, my aunt, my uncle, my brother in-law, my father in-law, my sister in-law, my nephews, all of these people shaved their heads to help us raise awareness!! Seeing my mom, grandma, and sister shave their heads, I’m not even sure how to put that in to thoughts or words. It was humbling, I was proud, I was nervous, I was happy. They made me realize why I am who I am. They have always made me feel comfortable in my own skin, all of my family has. And I kind of forgot that, but they all reminded me on September 1st, 2009.

Seeing everyone there made me realize the support that I have. I don’t see everybody in a big group like that and sometimes it’s hard to perceive that support. There were young girls getting their heads shaved and that was so cool!! Young boys too!! Men and women, I was blown away by the amount of females that sat down under the razor and didn’t even think twice about what they were doing!! It was such an amazing experience and I can’t wait to do this again!!

I met new people with Alopecia and that was a really great feeling and I hope the event brought something to them too. Laura Asher came to speak and tell her story. Caitlin Riley came with her mother to show support. Mike Goff came with his wife and he shared his story with me. Sheril Moore was there and it was the first time she had EVER gone without a wig in public. That had to be a liberating feeling!! I mean, I would think so, but I guess I shouldn’t speak for her either. And Amanda, she is truly a really great friend with awesome ideas!! I am so thankful to have that friendship because this, I know, wouldn’t have happened if it hadn’t been for her!!!! We’re all advocates now!!

If you'd like to see pictures from the event, here are a couple of websites you can visit. :o)

Larene Cathryn Photography: http://larenecathrynphotography.smugmug.com/GL/Alopecia-Fundraiser-...

Mariposa Photography: http://www.mariposaphotographyonline.com/ (Enter site, click on Featured, click the small thumbnail to the right)