Saturday, April 11, 2009

Ava's baldness is quickly growing on me. She still gets quite a few stares and whispers but I am learning to smile and ignore them (as well as learning to pack the sunscreen in my purse EVERYWHERE I go, even when it's cloudy!) Today Liesel saw some boys pointing and heard them whispering about the little girl with cancer. I figured that would be the assumption. I took her to another dermatologist on Friday to get a second opinion. Basically she (the doctor) said the same as the first. Alopecia is very difficult to treat, and there is very little that can be done, especially when it onsets at such a young age and over such a large area of the scalp. She gave me several options, one being "what she would do if it were her daughter". That is all she had to say to make me agree to try it. It is a topical cream that is usually used for warts, but somehow, sometimes, makes hair grow. No promises, but we decided it was worth a try. Funny thing is, after the appointment, Hope asked me,"Mommy, why do you want Ava's hair to grow now? She looks so cute with her bald head!" I am so glad everyone in the family agrees, "she looks so cute with a bald head". I loved watching Simeon carrying her around in front of all his soccer teammates today, as proud as any brother could be.

Meanwhile, here is a rare picture. Ava wearing a hat. It lasted all of 3 minutes, but at least I got a cute picture of her. For your (and my) blogging enjoyment.

22 comments:

Erin W. said...

Hello, I am a semi-lurker(I only pop in every once in a while) on your blog, but I guess not anymore since I'm leaving a comment now. But this post just caught my eye and I felt the need to message you. I don't have Alopecia, but I have either lost hair or have gotten my head shaved 3 times in my life. The last time I shaved my head I was 21 and my mother in law was going through chemo and lost all her hair, so I shaved my head so she wouldn't be alone. I found that yes, people WILL stare, however, you can have a lot of fun with it. A favorite for everybody while I was bald was when I would buy Crayola Washable Glitter Glue and smear it all over my head. It gave my head a really cute sparkle (and I could draw things like flowers and headbands and stars on my head with it as well) and it'd be cute for the day, but would easily wash off the skin at night. So even if hats aren't an option and well, hair ties are out of the picture...Crayola Washable Glitter Glue and even sparkly lotions do look really cute and allow for some creativity! She looks adorable bald! Good luck with everything! ~Erin

Jester 6 said...

With a smile and sparkling eyes like the ones in this picture, who even notices the hair!

Beth said...

I do enjoy that picture very very much! It deserves a frame!

Bethany said...

Aww! Hopefully she will grow a liking to hats for summer! How cute!

June Berger said...

She is so cute with the hat, but she's beautiful with her bald head ;o) .

Cammie Heflin said...

She does look adorable!

Anonymous said...

that is one super cute kid you have there! maybe we can expand therapy to include increased tolerance for hats!! Rachel

Arizona mom to eight said...

She looks adorable is her hat.

They told me the same thing about Meghan, but her treatments are working for the most part, it is a difficult choice.

Tim Rovenstine said...

What can I say, what do I know about baldness?

Michelle said...

Awww, Ava! You are GORGEOUS!

Kelly said...

The EYES have it, what a sparky girl! I love it! Nothing wrong with standing out! :)

liesel said...

Thank you Erin W. for some great advice. I am definitely having fun with that!

Ashley said...

She looks beautiful as always...great picture!

jennifer... said...

With such a beautiful face, who needs hair?  LOVE Erin's advice -- what a cool girl.

Larsen Family said...

I love that picture. She is too cute, w/ or w/o hair.

Amy said...

She almost looks like a different child with the big smile and hat on! Such a cutie she is!

Give the cream a try - you never know! :)

Melissa said...

Beautiful!!!

Jaimie said...

SO cute :)

little dalene said...

That is the cutest picture I've ever seen!!!

Ssejors said...

YAY!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE THE Bonnet/beret!

I am just falling in love with Ava's new look every time you post a new pic of her!

Susan said...

Cute hat! And an even cuter little girl.

If Ava doesn't want to keep her hat on, would telling and/or signing how pretty she looks (and/or how pretty the hat is) work? I remember how delighted she was a little while ago when she wore a hair ribbon and was signing "pretty!" repeatedly.

Not that it makes a great deal of difference - she's pretty either way!

Best wishes,
Susan in Ky

Christina said...

She is so beautiful. Kallie's alopecia is getting really bad too. But it's all on top. SO frustrating, because yeah, people stare and it annoys me! But they don't know any better. I haven't taken her to a derm in a long time because they have nothing new to say...sigh..how frustrating!