Joanne Williams
Editor

(Renee Sevenski/TCJ – The joy of friendship and understanding surround Steve Sevenski [left] and Mallory Crowner who both have Alopecia Areata and work to education others about it.)

It is one of those conditions that you would rather not deal with, let alone learn how to pronounce

Alopecia – al-o-pea-cha. Alopecia Areata (a-ree-sha) actually. It is an autoimmune disease that can affect anyone at any age. It causes sudden, patchy hair loss on parts of the body. It is thought to be genetic and can appear and disappear at any time.

According to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF) it affects 6.7 million people in the U.S. and 2% of people across the world.

That’s why September is National Alopecia Areata Awareness Month.

And that’s why – in September 2009, Mallory Crowner inspired almost 50 people to shave their heads to help raise money for alopecia awareness and research efforts.

Crowner said her parents, husband, grandmother, sisters and so many other family members joined in, including her in-laws, as well as “even strangers whom I did not know.”

Many more people know Crowner than she might realize. She is hard to forget. A taller, fit, bald female is uncommon, especially in places such as Eaton County.

Yes, she gets stares, and comments, and compliments, once people know her story.

In the beginning, high school of all places, it was often devastating, met by bullying and the like. “You really find out who your friends are,” she said.

Then, weeks before her marriage to husband Mike, her hair started falling out again.

“It strips you of your confidence,” Crowner said.

These days, Crowner is comfortable in her skin. Being bald is her choice.

There are treatments, some painful, ointments, elixirs and more, and of course, there are hats and wigs.

Crowner has never found wigs comfortable. When she ripped one off during a night out with friends, Mike was fine with it. “That was that with the wigs,” she said.

Today, Crowner continues to champion Alopecia causes and people with the disease.

She has been at work in IT at Michigan State for more than 25 years and has run into a colleague there who has it. Others seek her out to share stories. There are area support groups as well.

Her early support came from her family. They did whatever it took to support Crowner. Her mom even wrote a college paper about her daughter’s difficulty.

While the disease is not fatal, she wrote, “it is, however a life altering disease, and can be devastating for those afflicted,” as well as for their loved ones.

Crowner and crew decided to be bold and open. The fundraisers ended after a couple of years, but the advocacy continues. During the month of September, Crowner daily posts alopecia awareness information.

In person support groups are few and far between in this area, but Caitlin R. in Grand Ledge offers telephone support – 517-897-1993. She is listed on the NAAF pages.

One reason for the lack of groups? Crowner believes the world has become a more accepting, open place to talk about health, mental and physical issues.

Steve Sevenski has had alopecia practically since birth. His mother, Dawn, said he has been “bald since kindergarten.” She said she would rather that than put him through the risks of treatments and any possible side effects.

“It was always a joke in our house, we’d say, ‘Would you just brush your hair,’” Dawn said.

September is also National Suicide Prevention Month. Both awareness efforts can be easily found online or through local resources. The National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 9-8-8.