Annabelle, or Annie as her friends call her, is a performer at heart. She loves acting, singing, and performing in plays. She has a giving heart, and at age 7, she donated her hair to Wigs For Kids.
But just a few years later, Annie herself was the one in need of hair. Annie was diagnosed with trichotillomania, a mental health condition that causes recurrent, irresistible urges to pull out one’s own hair from their scalp, eyebrows, or others areas of the body.
Stress can cause increased pulling, so this situation can quickly result in severe hair loss. Annie shared that going to school became difficult. She was so worried her classmates were noticing her hair loss, she felt compelled to pull out even more hair.
When Annie first started to lose her hair, her family didn’t know where to turn. The retail cost for a quality hairpiece was beyond the family’s means. A stylist recommended the family consider Wigs For Kids.
Annie and her family applied to the Wigs For Kids Recipient Program, where children experiencing medical hair loss are provided hand-tied hairpieces made from donated hair at no cost to the family. Wigs For Kids is able to provide these hairpieces free of charge to recipient families thanks to generous hair and financial donors.
Annie worked with Sherri Linderman of Roots Organic Studio. Sherri works with ponytail donors as a Hair Donation Specialist, and also with our recipient families as a Certified Service Provider. Sherri met with Annie and her family first to take measurements for the hairpiece, then again after the hairpiece was completed for styling and to learn about maintenance. As long as the medical need remains, Annie’s family can apply for one hairpiece each year up through her 18th birthday.
Just a few days before Christmas, Annie had her styling appointment with Sherri. She loves her wig and it fit her perfectly!
Now, Annie has a hairpiece to help her feel more relaxed in public. She has a tool to help her live her life without worrying about how she is perceived by others.
Annie, Welcome to the Wigs For Kids Family!
If you are a stylist interested in helping our children, please click here for more information.
If you are interested in donating your hair, please click here for more information.
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