Comment by Alanna on July 4, 2013 at 8:45am

Hi Claire- I totally understand you. My daughter started showing bald spots when she was 3 years old. Now, she is 8 and has lost half of the back of her hair. I have had alopecia since I was 2 years old, and coped with it for my entire life since then- losing hair, regrowing hair. Because I have it, and now my baby has it- I just tell her that there are people with lots of hair, people with a little bit of hair, and people with no hair. And it is all good! I think it would be good to have a variety of dolls, and just make it normal that there are women with no hair and they are beautiful too. My daughter, before knowing she had AA, would always say to me- I want to shave my head so I can be bald like you. I love how you look bald. Well, she didn't know I didn't choose to be bald. Now, ironically she has Alopecia too. :D If you want to attend one of the events where Alopecia is accepted, I run them- one coming up in Hollywood and another in SF Bay area. Let me know as it's always nice to meet others- You can find me at www.boldlyme.org

Comment by Rea on July 4, 2013 at 11:56am

Im very sorry to hear about your daughter. I remember seeing the pain in my mothers eyes while I suffered from Alopecia as she felt useless. If I can say anything is try and just live, she will pick up on something being more wrong with her if you dont show her strength. From my experience, the young ones seem to be the strongest as they dont know what it was like to live their whole life with hair but you do so try and not confuse that. Hair grows back all the time. I lost all my hair on both body and scalp within 3 months (Universalis) 2 specialist said it would never grow back. Its all grown back after 3 years so you never know. One thing I never lost was HOPE. God bless xoxo

Comment by Sherry Schaefer on July 4, 2013 at 12:56pm

Amen Rea! Great post!

Comment by monica on July 4, 2013 at 11:09pm

hello there...I've had AA since that age of maybe 11 or 12...not sure...I just wanted to give you some insight to what I went through as a result of my mother either trying to protect me or just not knowing any better..hopefully it's the latter..I say this because as a result of her trying to protect me, she put me through so much as a child..I was forced to have some kind of terrible (burning) experimental treatment numerous times on my scalp that did not work...by also trying to protect me she had me put scalves on my head which would conceal the fact that I was losing my hair...now granted.. children can be mean and she probably felt that I would be made fun of...but what this did in turn to me is make me feel even more insecure as a child...and always want to cover my head with scalves and hats as to not show what I was suffering from..till this day I still cannot go out in public with my bald head now that I have shaved it all..I tell you this story because children learn from what you teach them...with that being said..I hope that you will give your child that freedom to feel like she can be however she feels fit without feeling insecure and that someone will not reject her because of her hair loss...but love her for who she is inside...

Comment by Claire Eadie on July 5, 2013 at 12:22pm

Thank you so much for everyone's fantastic advice !! Iv had my moment of sadness and I'm over it !! She will be taught strength and be a confident little lady as I'm well aware hair or even lack of it does NOT define the person you are !! Iv already decided that if the worst happens I myself will show her just how little hair actually means in the grand scheme of things and join her on her journey !! She is child number 5 and is uber confident and strong willed :) I will never use anything on her unless she gets older and asks ! I still wish there was a test to determine how servere etc things would get but I guess we can just live every day as it comes ! And thanks again for all your helpful comments x

Comment by Margaret Brennan on July 5, 2013 at 2:49pm

you will be great and so will your daughter.

Comment by jackie ronning on July 7, 2013 at 1:59pm

There are some great dolls and books written for children about Alopecia. I am a teacher and have it myself. I recommend just adding these things to your collection of fun toys. She will know soon enough some people have hair and some do not. I wouldn't get rid of anything because these are things she already has enjoyed. Just add to her collection and keep it diverse so she will grow to appreciate all the different types of roll models. When it comes time for school, talk to the prinicipal, counselors, etc. They have some great ways of dealing with kids in the class. If started early enough the kids can be taught to be a support system for her rather than see her as different. I wish you all the best with this. My daughter is 9 and has often asked me if she will be like Mommy and lose some of her hair. I can only say I don't know, and that hair doesn't make you a better person. My aunt had alopeica too, and we just tried to work with it. My didn't start until I was in my 40s but it can happened any time. The more chances she gets to talk to you about it, the better she will be with it. Kids take their cues from their families more than from the outside world. Take care and best of luck again.

Comment by Susan on July 8, 2013 at 9:57pm

Oh goodness. It was me that went bald and not my daughter. I was fine with going bald but with a child I do not know. Kids are so cruel. I can only hope and pray that she will be strong enough to get past the other kids. If that is the problem. I wish you well. AS far as getting rid of the Repunzal dolls, Barbies, and, DVD’s or anything that's going to make her feel that she needs to have long hair to be beautiful! I, myself, would not do that. Your daughter could be strong enough to take it. And as for her friends... her friends no matter how young they are will be behind her. Bless her heart. Kids are strong and I believe that they will be behind your daughter. However your little girl will feel bad but if she has strong people behind her she will be strong for herself. Bullies will be everywhere. I would love for you and your daughter to Google Kellie Pickler. Ms. pickler did not shave her head because of sickness or because of alopecia but because her friend was ill. Everyone looked up to Ms. Pickler for doing this for her friend. I would want your daughter to know that not everyone is bald because of sickness. Have your daughter be proud of who she is with or without hair. I apologize if I am not making sense. Take care. If your daughter wants to see a picture of me without hair I will be glad to show her.

Comment by Claire Eadie on July 9, 2013 at 2:47pm

Thank you so much for that lovely comment !! I am as I type very excited to see new tiny hairs sprouting ..... Does this mean remission ? My baby girl tho is totally unaware of anything as yet !! She is blessed with a beautiful smile and amazingly large blue eyes so hair I guess is a bonous to her beauty on the outside !! But inside is where her strength and beauty is !! And with 4 big strapping brothers that adore the ground she walks on ..... I challenge any bully to try stand in her way lol x

Comment by LilyPants on July 12, 2013 at 9:52am

My 2 year old was 1 when he was diagnosed. We are still trying to cope and get used to the idea. Feel free to find me on facebook. Lily Winograd

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