Braintree Mother Promotes Alopecia Awareness

If you saw a hairless toddler, sitting in a shopping cart at Stop and Shop, would you assume he had cancer or another terminal disease?

There is a chance your assumption is right, there's also a chance the child is completely healthy, but has Alopecia, an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles.

Cole Pantaleo, a  healthy and happy two and a half year old from Braintree, has Alopecia. At age one, Cole had almost a full head of hair, but then, inexplicably, his hair all fell out in a two week period.

"If you see a child with no hair in the grocery story, it doesn't mean that child has a fatal disease," said Cole's mother Lily Pantaleo.

Cole lives in Braintree with his parents Lily and Nicole and his nine-month-old sister Eloise.

"He's smart and silly and goofy," said Lily, adding he's just like every other child his age with the exception of his hair loss.

When Cole's hair fell out, his parents were understandably concerned. He was diagnosed with the non-life-threatening disease that Lily had never heard of.

Alopecia has several forms, some with patchy baldness, others with total baldness on the head. Some patients cannot grow hair anywhere on their bodies. It's not know how much, if any, hair Cole will be able to grow.

While Alopecia is not painful, it is very visible and there is no known cure.

"It's an incurable disease," said Lily. "It's a lot to take in."

Cole is now at an age where most of his peers have hair. The looks and questions are rolling in.

Lily said she'd rather have people ask about Cole's appearance, so she can educate them, rather than stare or make assumptions.

"If I had my way, Alopecia would be as recognized as more common diseases," said Lily.

After Cole's diagnosis, the Pantaleos joined the Children's Alopecia Project, a national network for kids with Alopecia and their families. They've met other parents who have answered questions and eased concerns.

"It's been a really good thing," Lily said of the Children's Alopecia Project.

The Pantaleos have discussed having an Alopecia awareness event in Braintree, but with the knowledge of it being such a large undertaking, no plans have been set.

Learn more about the Children's Alopecia Project at childrensalopeciaproject.org.