Alopecia

Original post from August 1, 2012.

My name is Kimberly Lass. I have Alopecia. Alopecia is a form of hair loss. It’s not contagious, and I’m not dying, so I don’t need sympathy. I’ve had Alopecia since I was about 5, so at the time it wasn’t very traumatic because I didn’t really care much. Over the years I have had the wonderful blessing of having custom hair pieces made by Locks of Love free of charge. I don’t know what I would have done without them. I don’t have hair but I am still just a regular teenage girl, with the same feelings as any other teenage girl. I’ve finally decided to tell everyone I know through Facebook because I realized that those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.

Appended post from November 11, 2013.
This is the reason why I don't want to get immunizations for EMT, and the reason I may not come back next semester.

This is the reason I hate swimming.

This is the reason I often wallow in self pity. Practically everyone has life easier than me, even people I don't like.

This is the reason I give people ugly glares when they complain about their hair growing slow. Be glad you have hair.

This is the reason I never really feel pretty. Because society tells people, especially girls, "your hair makes you pretty, your hair makes you attractive."

I worry about what people will think of me a lot more than the average person. And I ALWAYS worry about what guys will think. I mean, how can a guy like me like this?

Only 1 out of 10,000 people are adversely affected by immunizations. Yeah sure, it's a tiny percentage, but I'm that I am that 1 in 10,000, and I have to deal with it on a daily basis.

I don't know why I had to be that 1, I don't know why I have Alopecia. I was 5 when all my hair fell out, so 14 years later, I don't even remember what it feels like to have hair on my head.

Like I says in my older caption, I'm not looking for sympathy. Only understanding.

I feel really vulnerable sharing this. Like I'm exposing some deep dark secret, a secret that hides who I really am.

Over the years I've had some pretty amazing friends who have supported me through all my struggles, but it's harder being at college, trying to survive dorm life, with most of my support hundreds of miles away.

I've always had positive feedback from positing this picture in the past, but it's still really hard for me to do, however, it's something that needs to be done.