Last Monday my mom and I took Megan to our first Alopecia support group meeting in Omaha. We really went with no expectations, we just knew no one personally that had Alopecia Areata and thought this would be a great chance to meet some people and talk and if anything get some more information. I also really really wanted to let Megan meet other little girls that had Alopecia. I had talked with the lady thru e-mail that runs the Omaha meeting and she had mentioned a couple other girls in the group that were 7.
Well, we got there and at first were a little let down that there were only 4 other people there. Once we started talking I was so happy we went. It was kind of a family, everyone knew everyone. There were no girls there that night but one of the little girl's father was there , and she has about the same amount of hair as Meggy so it was nice talking with him. I even talked with a lady that initially went to the same dermatologist as Megan's first appointment and had the same horrible experience as we had. Well within three days after the meeting, Ross the guy that lead the meeting that night had e-mailed me 3 moms names that have little girls all around Megan's age, and had contacted The National Alopecia Areata Foundation and had them send me some information and a GREAT video. The video is kind of set up for a child's classroom and it is called "Why does my hair fall out". It is 9 minutes long and will be a great tool for us to use and take to Megan's classrooms when she is in school. We sat down and watched it Sunday night after we had our evening bath (since they were really really dirty from playing outside all day :) ) - Megan sat on my lap and my oldest Ryan watched it also. He really seemed really really interested in it. I know I am cheesy but I silently cried the first 3 min of the DVD!!! We have lost alot more hair this week and I must have been releasing some emotions I guess???
So over the weekend I had taken Ryan and Tyler shopping with a friend and her son who is close to the same age. Megan stayed in Fremont that night and had a date with her daddy. The whole purpose for shopping was to get Megan an outfit for her soon to be photo session and maybe get the kids some spring clothes. Well my little "cool" kid Ryan went into Gap kids and wanted everything. Which I did buy the boys some stuff (couldn't resist), and then I told Ryan that we came shopping to find Megan an outfit so I wasn't gonna get him anything else (which I did...) and he whined and made the comment "why is everything always about sissy anymore". I knew that he was being a typical 7 year old that was not getting his way BUT I could also see where he was coming from. So then on Sunday we had watched the program and I had noticed Ryan staying in the room for it. Later when I took Ryan to bed and we did our - snug as a bug routine I told him that I was sorry we had been wrapped up in Megan lately and I would try and be more aware. He looked at me and he said " she isn't sick Mom she just has Alopecia Areata, so it's okay"!!! I was sooo proud of him for saying that I am surprised I didn't cry. That was exactly what that DVD had taught them, that these kids were not sick that they just had Alopecia and should be treated like any other kid!!! If the one kid that is annoyed by Megan the most can learn that watching the DVD then hopefully all the other kids that Megan goes to school with will as well!!
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