Changing our world one head at a time!

It IS a Small World After All

So since I'm moving out of state, I've been calling everyone and making plans to see people before I go. So I just called the mother of a girl I used to babysit for since she was an infant. She's now 14 and I've stayed close with her and her family. I hadn't spoken to them since like Christmas time, so this family is about the only people in the world I had not yet told about my Alopecia. So I made plans to go see them Sunday. Before hanging up I said (to the mother), "I should prepare you for something before I see you and I need you to prepare Lexi (the 14 yr old girl)." I told her that I have lost almost all my hair and shaved my head. She asked what had happened. All I got out was, "Well I have an auto immune disease..." and then she shouted, "OMG you have Alopeica?!!" This is the first time anyone knew what I was talking about so I curiously asked how she knew. Turns out that Lexi, too, had a run with Alopecia this year. I just couldn't believe it! Her hair is now growing back, which is great. She had lost her eyebrows and eyelashes. Her hair on her head had basically just thinned, however...no circle spots. But it makes me so sad that I hadn't spoken to her recently or I would've known and would've been able to be there for her. But I'm just so glad to hear it's growing back and she's handling it ok. But WHAT A SMALL WORLD! She was like the one person I had delayed telling...why I don't know...and turns out she was going through the same thing.

2 Comments

Comment by Sharon on August 1, 2008 at 4:23pm: Wow that really is a huge coincidence. I think the more people we talk to about alopecia the more we will realise that it is alot more common than we realise. Good luck on your move I hope it all goes well.
Sharon

Comment by Malinda Rode on August 1, 2008 at 5:39pm: That's amazing! I find it very neat actually just knowing that that will contribute to your bond with Lexi! I have noticed more and more as I have gotten myself out there people I know have known about alopecia. One night, on a school trip while I was in highschool. I walked out into the hallway of our hotel in all my bald glory and I walked up to a circle gathered of people I knew, and they were just talking. And one of the chaperones looked at me across the circle, cut completely through all conversation and asked, "Malinda, do you have alopecia?" I was ecstatic that someone knew what it was! His grandmother had had it for years! I have found through my time as an alopecian that we are everywhere, it's just a matter of who's in hiding and who's out there traipsing proudly through the world in all their baldness. I'm glad you and Lexi have each other in this world of alopecians!