I have alopecia universalis
I am 24 years old
And my name is Natalie

My life changed in 2010 when I watched my beloved Pop (Grandfather) fight his battle against CANCER.
I had alopecia areata at this time.
During the time I spent with my Pop, by his side in his hospital bed I completely lost all my hair.
My Pop encouraged me to accept my alopecia and live life to the fullest.
I will never forget the day I went to the hospital and I said to him “ I look like a Cancer patient”. The image of my Pop pointing to himself and saying, “it didn’t matter that I had no hair, I was healthy and that was the most important thing”
My Pop passed away 23rd July 2010.
I then went travelling through Europe by myself (it was arranged long before my Pop got sick). My Pop was with me in spirit on the trip, he was so excited and interested in this adventure. In that time I was away I lost my eyebrows and eyelashes. It was a constant battle each day to deal with.
In May 2011 the wait began.
And it was a year after my Pop passed away my life changed again with the fitting of my first freedom wig.
I was so amazed how it looked like my own hair.
The day I had it fitted and cut, I cried not tears of sadness but tears of joy and relief.
The feeling of wearing my freedom wig is one I struggle to describe.
Instead of having a wig with a name, this was my hair; it was now a part of me.
The sadness that I once lived with everyday has slowly faded.
I know in my heart my Pop would be so proud of me.
I think of my Pop everyday.
And he inspires me to enjoy life and everything the world has to offer.
Its thanks to my freedom wig that I can now experience living again

This story is dedicated to my beloved Pop

Ernest Keith Looker
3/1/1927 - 23/7/2010