Students learn about Alopecia disease

Elementary students learned a little more about one of their classmates Tuesday, and the disease that has caused her to lose her hair.

Conway Central Express, Avoca, sponsored an Alopecia Awareness program at the elementary school.

Chelsea Kay, the daughter of Dale and Shari Kay, was diagnosed with Alopecia Areata Disease when she was 18 months old, with the result being loss of hair on the scalp and elsewhere on her body.

Alopecia is an autoimmune disease, with September designated as National Alopecia Awareness Month.

There is no cure, and Alopecia affects males and females.

Besides Chelsea, two others were on hand to tell about their experiences at the program -- Ross, a 65-year-old who developed Alopecia at the age of 35, and 17-year-old Beth of Hastings, Neb.

Besides the hair loss, the most challenging issues with the disease are psychological as patients learn to deal with the sudden loss of hair.

At A-H-S-T., Chelsea has been embraced, and the students have learned about the disease through programs such as was held this week, through books and through discussions in counseling class.

Many students in the A-H-S-T district have donated their hair to Locks For Love, which uses the hair for wigs provided to cancer and Alopecia patients.

On Tuesday, third-grader Danikah Grobe (left) had a significant portion of her hair cut off for Locks of Love.