Jessica's Journey by Beth Wilder

Jessica Schmidts Story With Alopecia Universalis

Alopecia Universalis is an incurable auto immune desease. There is no pain when one looses all of their hair. Unfortumately, not only is there no cure for this disease, there are many different causes of Alopecia.  I developed this desease when I was in second grade with small spots of hair loss noticed by my mom. My dad shortly moved out and my parents divorced. My hair  eventually grew back  naturally. The second time I was in 5th grade. My mom remarried and we moved away from my family and friends to mississippi. This is when I started to get multiple spots of hair loss. I saw a Dr on the air force base and He knew right away what I had because he had Alpecia Universalis as well! He prescribed a topical steroid cream which I had to put on my head multiple times a day. We moved back to Clearwater after 5th grade where I was born and back with family and friends, My hair grew back. Entering high school every thing was great! I was playing vollyball everyday enjoying school and friends. Untill my Gigi was diagnosed with breast cancer in August 2007 and passed away in 2008. She was my hero. Then my uncle Jake passed away and my grandpa all within 14 mths. With all the stress the Alopecia came back. We started the steriod cream agian. Once that didnt work and more spots appeared I could only wear my hair in a ponytail. We started steriod shots in my scalp, which were physically painful. We started looking into other options.The reality of not having hair again set in. I got my first hairpiece which was itchy and didn't fit right and I couldnt play the sport I loved like I used to. That is when I was introduced to Locks of love. That is when I had to shave any remaining hair and began the 3 month process with the amazing organization. I recieved 3 beautiful hair pieces from them at no cost. Now that I am 22 I am in need of a new hair piece. Locks of love only goes to the age of 20. There are not many options for me to have the same type of hair piece that Locks of Love makes, which is costum made to my head. There is a company Set Me Free Hair Solutions that has these types of hair pieces and are hand made in New Zealand. They painstaking put each strand of hair in the cap one at a time. This is a 5 mth process. Starting price is 3000 for 4 inches of hair and increases with every 2 inches. I need help with funding . I am a college student and have a full time job but dont  have 4500 laying around for a new hair piece. I wish it were easier and I didnt need to have hair, yet to be a woman and have the pressure of femininity every single day is stressful when I don't feel whole or myself with out my hair.

Thank you for your help!