Alopecia (and Angel Tree Kickoff Announcement)

So, for those of you who don't know, each year, Reece's Rainbow does a fundraiser in the months of November and December to raise money for waiting children.  Normally, only children with down syndrome from ages 0-5 are listed on the Angel Tree, but this year we had the unique opportunity to vote for one child from each category, and the top two, plus one chosen by a drawing winner, would also be on Angel Tree.  This is how we got Brett on the angel tree (after about a week of me yelling!) even though he's eleven years old.

But sweet Brett already has a dedicated and loving prayer warrior, who volunteered to be his Christmas warrior as well.  Christmas warriors are responsible for fundraising for a specific child through these two months, the goal being to raise $1,000 or more for each child.  For a $35 donation, you can get an Angel Tree ornament for that child.  Since this is my first year doing Angel Tree, I know little about what all this entails, but I'm jumping in with both feet.  In addition to helping Brett's Christmas Warrior, I also became a warrior myself for the little boy on the left-hand side of my blog - Elden 14G.  Below his picture and my super fab 'I'm a Christmas Warrior' button, there's a button that keeps tabs on his grant and how much was raised during Angel Tree.  So far, thanks to someone who is yet unnamed, Elden already has $27 in his account!   Anyone can donate, you can choose to get an ornament, gift an ornament, or just straight donate.  My Elden is almost five, so this will be his last year on the angel tree, most likely, and he will likely soon be transferred from a baby house to an adult mental institution.  We cannot let this happen.  Let's put the funds there so Elden's family can find him and get to him right away!

So... you may be looking at the title now and wondering what on earth alopecia has to do with any of this, or maybe, what it even is.  Well, both Brett and Elden have alopecia, which is relatively common in children with down syndrome, and causes premature hair loss.  You can read more about it here.  And as much as we, in our society, try to embrace baldness at any age, any gender, anyone who has been bald can attest to the fact that sometimes you still get funny looks in the supermarket, questions at the movie theater.  Children face these challenges even worse, and a child with down syndrome, already 'easy prey' for bullies, is likely to incur only more taunting if he or she is affected by alopecia.  In addition, many of our sweet children, even girls, who ate transferred to institutions are shaved bald to decrease upkeep and spread of infestations like lice.  Children like...

Joy, a 15-year-old girl

Julia, an eight year old girl

Katrina, who will turn 11 during Angel Tree

Are you, like me, screaming "UNFAIR!" with every fiber of your being?  Sick of the stereotypes, the bullying, the staring?  Are you, like me, rooting for each and every one of these kids to meet or exceed their $1,000 Angel Tree goal?

Among many fundraisers I have planned for Elden and am helping plan for Brett, I've decided to go wild and crazy.  Anybody see where I'm going with this yet?

Yep.  That's right.  I'm gonna shave my head.

Yep.  That head.  In the winter, in Ohio.

Here are some things I have learned.  People look very interesting without eyebrows.  So, I am offering up my public humiliation for these boys.  Once $1,000 has been raised between Brett and Elden, I will shave off ONE eyebrow.  Haha, imagine the heads that's going to turn in the supermarket!  But guess what?  I don't care!  If our kids have to deal with this degradation, going bald against their will, I can certainly lop off some hair of my own volition to encourage donations - I mean, come on, don't you all want to see my public humiliation?  I do!  In addition, I promise to video tape the actual shaving and post it here on this blog.  There MAY be a few public humiliation segments offered as incentives along the way... haven't decided yet.  It'll depend on what kind of reactions I can get on video.

At $1,500 (total, between both boys), the other eyebrow comes off.  Perhaps by then you will be tired of seeing me with one eyebrow and WANT to at least even things out?  Please?  ;)

And finally... when both boys meet their goals, $1,000 or more in each of their grant accounts, ALL the curly hair is coming off.  This also will be videotaped for all to see, before and after pictures, you name it, if it's for my boys, I'll do it.  I have the rest of my life for it to grow back.  These boys can't wait the rest of their lives for their Forever Families.

So there it is.  There will be auctions, giveaways, maybe even a carnival if I can swing it, in addition to the ornament sales for the boys, but on top of that, you get to see me go bald and beautiful.  So, if you're wondering who to donate to, whose ornament to buy, how best to help, I just ask you to turn your attention to my sweet boys... because, honestly, eyebrows are annoying anyways, and hair this curly is just a wreck to keep up.

Elden 14G:  http://reecesrainbow.org/13177/elden-14g

Brett #19:  http://reecesrainbow.org/1146/brett-b-396
(Right now Brett has had $0 donations since Angel Tree began this morning - we need somebody to zero his zero!)

Angel Tree Page (has all the children listed, where you can get their ornaments):  http://reecesrainbow.org/1146/brett-b-396

Could you please, find it in your heart to give anything, just a little something, to one or both of these boys?  Seriously, c'mon guys... all I want for Christmas is a bald head!  ;)