When One Gift Inspires Another: Recipient Gabby & Donor Annabelle

At Wigs For Kids, we love to share the stories of our hair donors, volunteer stylists, and recipient families. Each shared story reminds the families we serve that they are never alone on their child’s hair loss journey. Sometimes, a moment of kindness shared leads to another. We’re proud to share such a story today.

Meet Gabby

Gabby is an active high school student with plenty to celebrate. She is a varsity cheerleader, Honor Roll student, and a member of the National Honor Society. She loves spending time with friends, especially her best friend Ella, who always knows how to make her smile. She also loves football, math, pop music and spaghetti.

At home, she has a brother named Gavin and a cat named Mojo, and she admires her great-aunt Ann, calling her “the strongest person I know.” That example of strength became especially meaningful as Gabby faced a major change in her young life.

Facing Alopecia

Last year, Gabby suddenly began to lose clumps of hair each night. Within a few months, she was completely bald. Gabby describes this as an especially difficult time for her, but throughout her hair loss journey, she leaned on her family, friends, and her faith to maintain hope while looking for options to help her with her sudden hair loss.

At the age of 15, Gabby was diagnosed with Alopecia, an autoimmune condition that causes hair loss when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles. It is not contagious, and it can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, or background. For some people, hair may regrow; for others, hair loss may be long term. Every experience with alopecia is unique.

While alopecia is often viewed as a cosmetic condition, its impact can reach far beyond appearance. Children and adults living with hair loss may navigate social challenges, unwanted attention, and emotional hurdles that others never see. This is why awareness matters so much.

Gabby’s community rallied around her, with her cheerleading coach starting a fundraiser to help Gabby’s family with treatment options. The fundraiser received support from dozens of individuals, demonstrating to Gabby and her family that they do not have to walk this path alone. Her family explored many options to help Gabby feel comfortable and cared for, including applying for support from Wigs For Kids.

Through our Recipient Program, Gabby received a free-of-charge hairpiece, so she could have hair to wear whenever she wanted. These hairpieces are created from ponytail donations offered by generous donors around the world, harvested with care by professional stylists, and funded by donations made by caring supporters. They are designed to be durable enough to withstand rigorous cheerleading stunts, while also being comfortable enough for everyday wear.

The family was paired with Wigs For Kids volunteer stylists Tori Wiltrout and Michelle Licavoli-Preston of Stella Rose Hair Boutique. In their first meeting, measurements were taken for Gabby’s hairpiece, and together they selected the length and color for her tailor-made creation. A few months later, she returned to the salon for final styling on her hairpiece. The experience was more than just receiving a hairpiece: it was about feeling seen, supported, and celebrated.

A Special Day at the Salon

A social media post from Stella Rose Hair Boutique celebrated the day of Gabby’s styling appointment, and shared the team’s gratitude for the opportunity to work alongside Wigs For Kids in supporting young recipients.

After the appointment, Gabby’s mom shared with us how much the experience meant to their family.

Gabby also had something to say about her new hairpiece as well, sharing that not only does she love it because it is beautiful, but on a practical note, because it helps keep her head warm.

Little did Gabby know, the impact of her styling appointment didn’t end when she left the salon.

Gabby’s Story Inspires Someone Else to Give

When Stella Rose Hair Boutique shared Gabby’s appointment on social media, people saw more than just a new hairstyle. They saw what happens with hair donors, stylists, supporters and families come together.

Among the responses was from the family of a 9-year-old girl who wanted to make a difference. After seeing Gabby’s gift, young Annabelle decided she was ready to give her hair to the next child who needed it. Her family made an appointment at the very salon that just served Gabby!

Annabelle’s gift is a beautiful example of how one person’s story can encourage someone else to take action. The same salon that helped Gabby with her Wigs For Kids hairpiece became the place another young person started their hair donation journey.

Each hairpiece represents a community coming together to support a child. From the donors who grow to give, stylists who volunteer their time and talent, and supporters who fund hairpiece creation, each person is vital to ensuring a child requesting a hairpiece can receive one made just for them, and always at no cost to the family served.

Through a child’s journey, another person is inspired.

A person sees the story and thinks, I can help.

A stylist sees the difference their skills can make.

A family finds encouragement.

Another ponytail is grown with purpose.

Gabby’ story reminds us that generosity rarely stops with one person. It radiates outward, connecting people who may never meet but who become part of the same mission.

How You Can Help

Stories like Gabby’s are only possible because of a community who believes no child should face hair loss alone.

Whether you donate hair, support our program financially, or partner with us as a stylist, you become part of a child’s journey toward confidence and self‑acceptance.

At Wigs For Kids, we don’t just provide wigs.
We help children feel like themselves again.

Grow. Give. Share. Inspire. Together, we can help children experiencing hair loss feel confident and supported.

The Impact of Hair Donations

Thanks to support from both hair and financial donors, we helped more than 1,000 kids in 2025 receive free wigs, and we’re on track to help even more children in 2026!  

Start a fundraising event in your community, inspire others to grow and give, and help us reach even more kids this year!

Every contribution, whether hair or funds, helps make a difference in the lives of children who deserve confidence and comfort.

Meet Our Kids!

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.

For recipient stories, please click here.

For more ways to support Wigs For Kids, please click here.