latina Sethman Benthall
“I Am Not My Hair…Now Scream, Tina!”
I have lived with Alopecia-Universalis for twenty-one years now. At the tender age of just ten years old, my hair began to fall out. By the time I had reached twelve years old, what little hair I had left also fell out.
Again, “I Am Not My Hair!” Everyone that knew me automatically assumed my condition was contagious. But, it’s not. It’s an autoimmune disease. It is now my mission in life to bring an awareness of this disease to people. Alopecia-Universalis is the cause of my total hair loss. Alopecia-Universalis is a very rare disease that many people are in the dark about. I believe God has entrusted me with the responsibility of educating and informing people in this region of Virginia about this diseases’ rarity and its lasting effect on many women diagnosed with it.
God wants me to tell you, “You are not alone!” As a young person diagnosed with Alopecia, I had a support group to find comfort and strength in. But, my family was my greatest support. They showed me they loved me despite my hair loss. They helped me understand, “I Am Not My Hair!” Yes, there are several side effects of the disease that result in depression, moments of insecurity, low self-esteem, trust issues, and feelings of abandonment to name a few. As a child, it was very tough for me growing up with this disease. But, I quickly learned that God’s grace and His mercy was always available to me to help me get through each day.
Attending school as a young person diagnosed with Alopecia was probably the most difficult thing I ever encountered. I felt my peers never accepted me. I didn’t have many true friends. I was bullied and teased a lot by my peers. I remember those days as if they were yesterday. I remember one time being over my aunt’s house playing in the front yard when two girls approached me and brutally said, “Come here! Let me take your wig off!” I took off running. They chased behind me and caught up to me on a hill at a nearby school. They forcefully pulled my wig off. I felt so awful inside. I felt utterly humiliated. I entertained thoughts of suicide. I even made two attempts unsuccessfully. When my mom discovered my suicide attempts, she took me to a nearby grave site and asked, “Do you want to be here in the cold and dark?” I thought to myself, “Wow, she must be crazy!” Well, as crazy as her method may have felt to me, it worked! I am here today to touch the lives of many beautiful women diagnosed with Alopecia.
Daily, I ask God, “Lord, let me reach one person and let them know that they are not alone, and that you are with them every step of the way!” As I think back, I did know one young girl who was a true friend to me. One day she asked me to accompany her to her prom dance. She was a 12th grader and I was an 11th grader. I felt so honored she asked me to accompany her. She and I, along with our dates, attended the prom and, boy, did we have the time of our young lives! I pause here to say, “Thank you D (Dina) for being there for me!
So, in light of what I have shared thus far, I do acknowledge that I am on a journey leading me to a place where I must raise an awareness of Alopecia-Universalis with unending determination. “I Am Not My Hair…Now Scream!” By the way, my name is Latina L. Sethman-Benthall. I am the proud mother of two beautiful children. I am happily married of twelve years to the love of my life, my husband James “Pete” Benthall.
I have lived with Alopecia-Universalis for twenty-one years now. At the tender age of just ten years old, my hair began to fall out. By the time I had reached twelve years old, what little hair I had left also fell out.
Again, “I Am Not My Hair!” Everyone that knew me automatically assumed my condition was contagious. But, it’s not. It’s an autoimmune disease. It is now my mission in life to bring an awareness of this disease to people. Alopecia-Universalis is the cause of my total hair loss. Alopecia-Universalis is a very rare disease that many people are in the dark about. I believe God has entrusted me with the responsibility of educating and informing people in this region of Virginia about this diseases’ rarity and its lasting effect on many women diagnosed with it.
God wants me to tell you, “You are not alone!” As a young person diagnosed with Alopecia, I had a support group to find comfort and strength in. But, my family was my greatest support. They showed me they loved me despite my hair loss. They helped me understand, “I Am Not My Hair!” Yes, there are several side effects of the disease that result in depression, moments of insecurity, low self-esteem, trust issues, and feelings of abandonment to name a few. As a child, it was very tough for me growing up with this disease. But, I quickly learned that God’s grace and His mercy was always available to me to help me get through each day.
Attending school as a young person diagnosed with Alopecia was probably the most difficult thing I ever encountered. I felt my peers never accepted me. I didn’t have many true friends. I was bullied and teased a lot by my peers. I remember those days as if they were yesterday. I remember one time being over my aunt’s house playing in the front yard when two girls approached me and brutally said, “Come here! Let me take your wig off!” I took off running. They chased behind me and caught up to me on a hill at a nearby school. They forcefully pulled my wig off. I felt so awful inside. I felt utterly humiliated. I entertained thoughts of suicide. I even made two attempts unsuccessfully. When my mom discovered my suicide attempts, she took me to a nearby grave site and asked, “Do you want to be here in the cold and dark?” I thought to myself, “Wow, she must be crazy!” Well, as crazy as her method may have felt to me, it worked! I am here today to touch the lives of many beautiful women diagnosed with Alopecia.
Daily, I ask God, “Lord, let me reach one person and let them know that they are not alone, and that you are with them every step of the way!” As I think back, I did know one young girl who was a true friend to me. One day she asked me to accompany her to her prom dance. She was a 12th grader and I was an 11th grader. I felt so honored she asked me to accompany her. She and I, along with our dates, attended the prom and, boy, did we have the time of our young lives! I pause here to say, “Thank you D (Dina) for being there for me!
So, in light of what I have shared thus far, I do acknowledge that I am on a journey leading me to a place where I must raise an awareness of Alopecia-Universalis with unending determination. “I Am Not My Hair…Now Scream!” By the way, my name is Latina L. Sethman-Benthall. I am the proud mother of two beautiful children. I am happily married of twelve years to the love of my life, my husband James “Pete” Benthall.