Thank you from Erin

This is Hannah, Erin's Mum, I wanted to write something today too. Erin is a selfless, intelligent, funny, loving, medium-sized girl (she'd kill me if I said little!) She astounds me with how well she deals with her alopecia, some may say she's fortunate that most of her patches are well hidden but she doesn't ignore them. Every now and then she'll ask me to take photos so she can see it, because in most part they are at the back where she cannot see in the mirror. Her hair is still constantly falling out, the patches are merging into areas and we understand that one day it might all just go... it might not either, that's the thing with alopecia, who knows what will happen!

As you can see she's lost a substantial amount over the last 7 months. Some bits seem to have grown again but overall the patch has grown.

Yesterday in the hairdressers she was looking through the colour chart, you know the ones with curls of hair in different colours picking out what colour she'd have if she did go bald (or almost bald) for a wig... she picked a sandy blonde for school and then red and purple for when she's a famous drummer!! This is totally unprompted. She understands we have no control and happily talks about options for different situations. I have told her that if she does lose the majority of her barnet that I will shave mine too for charity!

Erin gets so much from this blog because it shows how much other people care about her and of course it's nice to think that other children with alopecia could read this too. If you go back to when she first found out, the progression of her dealing with alopecia has been positive and quick for a girl of just 8 years old. I'm very proud of her. What neither of us expected was how much people have reached out to show their love, some even send her presents! She's not expecting anything from anyone and has never been a spoilt child so she truly loves everything from words to hats that comes her way. We are both genuinely really touched by everyone's support.

Here is a video we put together last night...
With thanks to Laura from Tea & Honey Bee's Design for the little monsters

Drumming

My Drumming is so epic because I practice every day but only do it for 10 or 15 minutes a day. I do drum lessons every Saturday at 4 o'clock (in the afternoon). I do drum lessons because I want to be a drummer and I'm just interested in drumming.

Drumming is sort of weird and sort of fun because basically you are just crashing the cymbals and bashing the drums that's the weird and fun part. You use energy by playing on a drum set.

When my Dad came home today he brought a new drum set, it was a surprise. I saw him come through the door with a new snare and cymbal and thought it was just those but it is a whole set! On my drum set there are 3 tom toms, 1 snare, 1 bass, 1 high hat (cymbals) and 1 crash (cymbal). I was speechless and excited to play it.

Drums & Dogs

We went to Wales to get a new puppy, we called her Luna, she is black and white and cute. It took 4.5 hours to get there and 4.5 hours to get back, so all together 9 hours! So I missed my first drum club lesson but we had to pick her up that day because we rescued her. Luna is crazy, a chewer, funny, a cutie pie and a tiny bit clever, I love her.

This weekend I had my first ever drum lesson and it was funny because the drum teacher was in and out of the room that I was in. He was in and out because the other boy learning drums was in the room next door. I played on a drum kit with 5 drums (1 base, 1 snare, 3 tom toms) and 5 cymbals, it was weird because I'm not used to a massive drum kit!

There are only 3 sleeps until the awards and I'm so excited!! I can't wait to meet other alopecia kids.
My alopecia is growing back in some places and falling out in others. You can see in this picture where my hair is growing again

 And this one I've got some regrowth and some new patches! Alopecia is a funny old thing.

Exciting things

I’m really looking forward to going to the awards. I’m excited and a little bit shy. I hope there are lots of people there. I bet I make lots of friends and I’ll miss them when I go home. My mum bought me these silver sparkly high heels for the awards I’ve put them on with my secret award dress and my mum said I look beautiful in them.

Another thing I can’t wait for is drum school! I start in 2 weeks. I’m excited and shy the same as the awards. I’m excited because I really want to learn how to play the drums. I play my drums most days in my bedroom. It’s hard to explain why I like playing the drums, I just really like playing them. I’m going to be a drummer.

When I said to Freya at school, I’ve got a bit of regrowth on my hair everyone gathered around me, they were all really pleased for me.

February is going to be a good month!