Inspired February 2015 Inspired February 2015 | Page 16

FEATURE

Cause

OLIVIA’S

When I was 18 months old, my hair loss
began with a small circular spot that
suddenly appeared. Within days I had
several more ‘spots’ without hair.

My mom rushed me to the doctor and
was told that I had developed alopecia,
an auto-immune condition that causes
hair loss. It is a medical mystery that
affects over 5 million people in the
United States. The doctor could not
predict if I would lose all of my hair or
if the spots would regrow. Over the
next several weeks, my hair loss rapidly
continued and within 4 weeks I was
totally bald.
Devastated, my mom took me to several
other doctors, who tried numerous
treatments. Finally, a combination of a
topical steroid and Women’s Rogaine
were used and my own hair
began to regrow.

At 8 years of age, I liked the idea of ‘picking out’ new hair. I was able to
select the color and length that I wanted.
My mom felt that the hair system was the perfect solution to my hair
loss.
With it, I would ‘fit in’ and once again, look like all the
other little girls in 3rd grade.

By age 4, I had most
of my hair back. When
I entered 1st grade,
I looked like all of the
other little girls and
everyone felt that the
alopecia was in the past.

It took 8 weeks to create my hair system and it was
truly amazing. I received it while I was on Christmas
break and when I returned to school, most of the other
students did not realize that I was wearing a ‘wig.’
 One child actually said, “WOW, your hair grew a lot.” 
At first I loved my
new hair. But as time
went by, I began to
have issues with the
adhesive that was
needed to attach my
hair system. It was a
lot of maintenance for
a child my age.

Unfortunately, when I
was in 3rd grade my hair
loss began again. It was
apparent that I was, once
again, losing all of my hair.
Concerned about the possible side
affects of the long term use of such
strong topical medications, it was
decided that I should have a custom hair
system made instead.

16 Inspired

I

I also, liked to run and
play and my new hair
was hot and itchy.

/InspiredKidsIndy

/inspiredkidmag