Unless you have been living under a rock and have some way of still connecting to the internet, which in that case fill me in, you are likely aware of my baldness. I have had Alopecia, a disease in which my body attacks hair follicles and blocks the growth of any hair, for thirteen years now. I have shared quite a bit of my journey on the blog, but there are many entertaining, meaningful, and everyday stories that come along with my Alopecia. They are stories I love to share with others and I cannot wait to share with you. Without further ado, welcome to Alopecia Stories | Volume Three.
One of my favorite parts of being bald is all of the people I have the opportunity to meet. It is so crazy to me how a strange medical condition can open up crazy doors to share life with others going through similar situations. In our small Dutch town, it is pretty typical to know someone who knows someone who knows someone. We call it Dutch bingo.
A few years ago a Dutch bingo like scenario played out in which one of my college friends was teaching in a nearby town and got to know a little girl who also had Alopecia. The superintendent connected me to their family and after a few months of figuring out details we met. It was one of the top ten moments in my life to meet Elle and share the common bond of being bald.
A friendship instantly blossomed and I asked Elle to be one of my flower girls in our wedding. Without a doubt or regret, her cuteness rivaled every other part of our wedding. One of the best moments of our wedding was our first dance. We were in our own little world till we realized Elle was sitting cross legged in the middle of the dance floor with her arms crossed and a frown on her face. She was so ready to dance and was ready to get on with the night! There's a priceless picture somewhere out there.
Ever since our wedding my friends are constantly fighting over who is Elle's biggest fan and have taken to convincing everyone that she is a mini-Laura in every sense. Even at a young age, Elle has taught me so much about confidence, accepting others, and living with joy. She is one of my best friends and a huge reason I am so thankful for my Alopecia.
Do you think Elle looks like a mini-Laura?
Labels: about me, Alopecia Stories, Being BALD, Our Wedding
