Alopecia World
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Two Alopecians walk into a doctor's office...
Sounds like a bad comedian's joke - "Two Alopecians walk into a bar...." But, for the first time, I actually found myself in public place with an Alopecian I didn't know.
We first saw each other in the Lab part of the hospital (I was in for a blood test). I thought he might have Alopecia. He was about my age, very fit looking, and very bald with an all-over-his-head tan. If he had eyebrows, they weren't very dark. I was, as usual, sitting there bald. Neither one of us said anything.
We both ended up in the pharmacy a little while later. I've never approached someone I thought might be Alopecian, but I went up to him and said "Do you have Alopecia?" He smiled broadly and said yes, and we talked about his loss of his hair at age 13, and mine much later in life.
He said he had noticed me in the lab, and thought it was wonderful that I was "out" in public, and that I looked too healthy to have cancer. It was clearly a day-brightener for him. I gave him one of my cards that have the titles of my YouTube videos, and the Alopecia World address.
Alopecians are everywhere - approximately 2% of the population, I think. The more of us who are seen, the less unusual we'll appear. But, we'll always be unique!
We first saw each other in the Lab part of the hospital (I was in for a blood test). I thought he might have Alopecia. He was about my age, very fit looking, and very bald with an all-over-his-head tan. If he had eyebrows, they weren't very dark. I was, as usual, sitting there bald. Neither one of us said anything.
We both ended up in the pharmacy a little while later. I've never approached someone I thought might be Alopecian, but I went up to him and said "Do you have Alopecia?" He smiled broadly and said yes, and we talked about his loss of his hair at age 13, and mine much later in life.
He said he had noticed me in the lab, and thought it was wonderful that I was "out" in public, and that I looked too healthy to have cancer. It was clearly a day-brightener for him. I gave him one of my cards that have the titles of my YouTube videos, and the Alopecia World address.
Alopecians are everywhere - approximately 2% of the population, I think. The more of us who are seen, the less unusual we'll appear. But, we'll always be unique!
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Comment by Natalie on November 6, 2009 at 12:55pm
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I have been meeting quite a few random alopecians out and about lately, too! It is so cool to meet others (especially just randomly) and talk about our alopecia! I feel like we have our own little sisterhood/brotherhood of sorts ;)
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Comment by Andrea on November 6, 2009 at 1:01pm
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That's cool! I have an extremely rare genetic condition called Marfan Syndrome (1/5000 births) and had never met anyone other than my family members (father, grandfather and aunt) that have it. I met someone via YouTube that has it...In fact he had also never met anyone who'd heard of it much less had it.
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Comment by Mary on November 6, 2009 at 1:18pm
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Hi Andrea - thanks for your comment. I remember reading that some scientists believe that Abraham Lincoln had Marfan Syndrome. But, it's apparently not a settled issue.
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It would be hard, but phenotypically he did display all the characteristics. My father looks a lot like him. My father and grandfather are mild expressions, and my aunt and I are moderate. My aunt died at 56 from a stroke/aneurysm which is fairly common after heart failure for the condition. Lincoln of course was assassinated, so we don't know how long he might have lived, and I haven't heard if there were any indications of a weakened heart. All this being said, I'd lay dollars to donuts that many more runway models have it than in general population because it is "the look" that the designers want. Tall and lanky, lol!
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lol, indeed! I wish you good health and long life, Andrea.
The older I get, and despite having some chronic health issues besides AA, I'm just thankful that I'm able to be active and do the things I love. Being bald is the least of my problems!
( ;-)
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Comment by JeffreySF on November 6, 2009 at 9:21pm
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Hey Mary,
I'm glad you said hello to the fellow and had a good chat.
I have been seeing more and more people with alopecia lately. It's crazy!!!
Jeffrey
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