The Pregnancy
Akhilah was born on September 20, 2008 during what I remember was one of the hottest summers ever (or maybe it was just the hormones:-)). I was so nervous when I found out I was pregnant because I really didn't know if I would be a good mom and how I take care of this new little person that would soon be in my life. I tried to everything right. I never missed a doctor's appointment, did all of the prenatal screenings that I was supposed, ate lots of fruit and drank a WHOLE lot water. I also stopped drinking and smoking when I found out, (about six weeks into the pregnancy) and began walking everyday when I got closer to my due date. I constantly looked at baby blogs and even purchased one of those huge pregnancy calendars that help you document your baby's development. Needless to say I was careful and think that's what made Akhilah's eventual diagnosis so puzzling and heart-breaking.
*****************************************
Fast forward to September 20 - Akhilah was born happy and healthy. Everything with her picture perfect. I tried to breast-feed, but I only kept it up for about six weeks. I became very frustrated with the whole process and began bottle-feeding her, (something that I regret right now - I'll explain later on). For the first year of her life she was fine.
Akhilah was born on September 20, 2008 during what I remember was one of the hottest summers ever (or maybe it was just the hormones:-)). I was so nervous when I found out I was pregnant because I really didn't know if I would be a good mom and how I take care of this new little person that would soon be in my life. I tried to everything right. I never missed a doctor's appointment, did all of the prenatal screenings that I was supposed, ate lots of fruit and drank a WHOLE lot water. I also stopped drinking and smoking when I found out, (about six weeks into the pregnancy) and began walking everyday when I got closer to my due date. I constantly looked at baby blogs and even purchased one of those huge pregnancy calendars that help you document your baby's development. Needless to say I was careful and think that's what made Akhilah's eventual diagnosis so puzzling and heart-breaking.
*****************************************
Fast forward to September 20 - Akhilah was born happy and healthy. Everything with her picture perfect. I tried to breast-feed, but I only kept it up for about six weeks. I became very frustrated with the whole process and began bottle-feeding her, (something that I regret right now - I'll explain later on). For the first year of her life she was fine.
Akhilah's Story
The Mystery Hair Loss
When Akhilah was about 18 month years old, she developed a circular bald spot near her hairline. Needless to say I was puzzled. It was very smooth and the hair seemed like it was gone overnight!! I thought that maybe I was pulling her hair too tight - although in hindsight I did not style her hair tightly. My aunt thought that maybe at some point the velcro from her winter coat attached to her hair and pulled it out. At that time it did not spread and was easy to cover up - and I assumed that one of the two previous scenarios were the cause - so I did not look into it. BIG MISTAKE! I try not to beat myself about it because I'd never heard of Alopecia. No one in my family had heard of Alopecia. None of my friends who I ran the story across had heard of Alopecia. The spot grew back about six months later and I assumed that we would never have to confront this problem again
**********************************************
The next bout with her mystery hair loss happened after she a little over two years old. This time it was entire hairline - around the entire circumference of her scalp. At this point I was totally convinced that I need to stop pulling her hair too tight and maybe needed to lay off on the ponytails. She didn't wear braids much, (because I'm not all that good in braiding tight), so all I can figure is that the ponytails caused the breakage. This time - as with the last - her hair grew back in about six to eight months and I thought nothing off it.
When Akhilah was about 18 month years old, she developed a circular bald spot near her hairline. Needless to say I was puzzled. It was very smooth and the hair seemed like it was gone overnight!! I thought that maybe I was pulling her hair too tight - although in hindsight I did not style her hair tightly. My aunt thought that maybe at some point the velcro from her winter coat attached to her hair and pulled it out. At that time it did not spread and was easy to cover up - and I assumed that one of the two previous scenarios were the cause - so I did not look into it. BIG MISTAKE! I try not to beat myself about it because I'd never heard of Alopecia. No one in my family had heard of Alopecia. None of my friends who I ran the story across had heard of Alopecia. The spot grew back about six months later and I assumed that we would never have to confront this problem again
**********************************************
The next bout with her mystery hair loss happened after she a little over two years old. This time it was entire hairline - around the entire circumference of her scalp. At this point I was totally convinced that I need to stop pulling her hair too tight and maybe needed to lay off on the ponytails. She didn't wear braids much, (because I'm not all that good in braiding tight), so all I can figure is that the ponytails caused the breakage. This time - as with the last - her hair grew back in about six to eight months and I thought nothing off it.
Your copyright - 2013
Akhilah's Alopecia Adventure
The Devastating Truth
In January of 2012 Akhilah started a Head Start program at a local church. I was so excited that my baby was growing up and starting school like a big girl :-). However, the next month I noticed a patchy bald spot on the right side of her head. In addition her hair began shedding LIKE CRAZY!! Every night when I would comb or brush it would come it in almost handfuls. I was at a loss. I knew that this time it was not my fault. I took her to the doctor and he told me that I was pulling her hair too tight and it was no big deal - but he gave me a referral to a dermatologist anyway. In the meantime I contacted her father, (which was another challenge), and explained to him what was going on with her. He told me that he had Alopecia in his beard a few years back and that after a year it grew back. Alopecia?!?!? What is that?!?!? When I began to research it I was devastated. All the pictures, stories and blogs let me know that all along my daughter was not suffering from tight hair styles, but rather from a legitmate condition that might take all of her hair - and that is exactly what happened. Over the course of the next few months she lost ALL of the hair on her scalp and within another few months she totally lost her eyebrows and eyelashes. I found a pediatric dermatologist who prescribed a topical steroid. Every time we went he prescribed a stronger dose and this did not sit well with me. After not seeing ANY results from the steroids I stopped using them totally - this was around October 2012. My mom and I decided that prayer and lots of love would probably have a better effect on her. FINALLY in February of 2013, she started showing positive signs of hair loss and needless to say we were all ecstatic.
In January of 2012 Akhilah started a Head Start program at a local church. I was so excited that my baby was growing up and starting school like a big girl :-). However, the next month I noticed a patchy bald spot on the right side of her head. In addition her hair began shedding LIKE CRAZY!! Every night when I would comb or brush it would come it in almost handfuls. I was at a loss. I knew that this time it was not my fault. I took her to the doctor and he told me that I was pulling her hair too tight and it was no big deal - but he gave me a referral to a dermatologist anyway. In the meantime I contacted her father, (which was another challenge), and explained to him what was going on with her. He told me that he had Alopecia in his beard a few years back and that after a year it grew back. Alopecia?!?!? What is that?!?!? When I began to research it I was devastated. All the pictures, stories and blogs let me know that all along my daughter was not suffering from tight hair styles, but rather from a legitmate condition that might take all of her hair - and that is exactly what happened. Over the course of the next few months she lost ALL of the hair on her scalp and within another few months she totally lost her eyebrows and eyelashes. I found a pediatric dermatologist who prescribed a topical steroid. Every time we went he prescribed a stronger dose and this did not sit well with me. After not seeing ANY results from the steroids I stopped using them totally - this was around October 2012. My mom and I decided that prayer and lots of love would probably have a better effect on her. FINALLY in February of 2013, she started showing positive signs of hair loss and needless to say we were all ecstatic.
2013 - Now
Throughout the year she grew back her eyelashes, eyebrows and some hair on her scalp. I finally had faith that her hair could and would come back - no matter what type of loss she experienced. However I was not prepared when her hair started shedding again in December. I was in denial at first, but then over the course of a few weeks, I could tell that she definitely did not have as much hair as she did 30 days ago and that the texture of hair was somewhat brittle in certain spots (like it was in the 2012 episode). However, this time, instead of getting depressed - I got angry. I was mad at the disease, I was angry with how my daughter had her hopes set so high for hair growing back and now would have to disappointed all over again. I decided this was not acceptable and decided to fight. We would suffer through this heartbreak again - atleast not without trying. The good news is that the shedding was light (and no where near as aggressive as it was before), and it looks like it has pretty much stopped. I do believe that it stopped/slowed down due to me trusting my gut and making changes in her diet and hair care routine immediately, and this what I'll share on "Triggers" page.
Thanks For Reading Her Story
Throughout the year she grew back her eyelashes, eyebrows and some hair on her scalp. I finally had faith that her hair could and would come back - no matter what type of loss she experienced. However I was not prepared when her hair started shedding again in December. I was in denial at first, but then over the course of a few weeks, I could tell that she definitely did not have as much hair as she did 30 days ago and that the texture of hair was somewhat brittle in certain spots (like it was in the 2012 episode). However, this time, instead of getting depressed - I got angry. I was mad at the disease, I was angry with how my daughter had her hopes set so high for hair growing back and now would have to disappointed all over again. I decided this was not acceptable and decided to fight. We would suffer through this heartbreak again - atleast not without trying. The good news is that the shedding was light (and no where near as aggressive as it was before), and it looks like it has pretty much stopped. I do believe that it stopped/slowed down due to me trusting my gut and making changes in her diet and hair care routine immediately, and this what I'll share on "Triggers" page.
Thanks For Reading Her Story
