The definition of Autoimmune Diseases (courtesy of WebMD) is: “Any disorder in which loss of function or destruction of normal tissue arises from humoral or cellular immune responses to the body’s own tissue constituents; may be systemic, as systemic lupus erythematosus, or organ specific, as thyroiditis.”

There are over 100 different disorders associated with these “immune responses” - some deadly, some treatable, some curable, some just damned inconvenient.

If you’ve been around here for a while, you know about me and my own personal battle.  Alopecia  is not one of the deadly disorders.  It’s also not treatable nor curable.  No one can tell me for sure what triggers an episode, or why, after being in remission for 12 years, it’s suddenly back.   It is a fucking pain…because I never was very good at putting on makeup, and now I have to deal with painting on eyebrows, too?  Oh mah holy hell, whose idea of some grand, cosmic joke was this?

Yea, well, they can bite me.

But there’s one thing that I know with 100% certainty.  I can lead a normal life with no hair.  I can go run.  I can hold down a job and have a family.  I can hug my friends and my pets.  No one has ever died from being stared at in the grocery store (believe me - you may want to … but it’s just not worth getting upset over).  And y’know? I can take a shower, get dressed, and be out of the house in the time it used to take me to wash and condition my hair.  Sometimes “extra time” is a gift.

Then, there’s little Ivy.  I learned about Ivy from Veronica.   Ivy’s mom is mom to seven children.  Two sets of twins (!) and one singleton.  She also took custody of two nephews.  This is a special woman - who has a very special little girl.

Ivy also suffers from an autoimmune disease.  It’s called Pemphigus - (not pretty if you click there, but very, very enlightening) and the medicine that Ivy takes to keep this horrible disease under control suppresses the rest of her immune system.  She’s unable to fight off any kind of infection.   Which places her in the hospital for things that your children or mine would fight off with a quick dose of an antibiotic.

The thing is - there is a treatment.  From Veronica’s site:

It’s called IVIG (intravenous immunoglobulin) and it is a transfusion of immune cells that would bolster Ivy’s own immune system and help her fight infections in a normal way.

Unfortunately, the officials at the Australian National Blood Authority have denied the request for Ivy to have this treatment. This treatment that could very well keep her out of hospital. So far, all appeals have been in vain.

Um.  Excuse me, Australian National Blood Authority?  WTF?  WT-OMHH-F are you thinking?

So, for those of you who think that this sucks and that beautiful Ivy deserves to live life outside the hospital - playing in the playground, going to school with her friends -  will you spend two minutes of time and please GO HERE!!!!  Sign the petition that is up.  Let’s help this family with our power.

And for those of you who have stuck around with me, helping me get through my own little crises - here’s MY treatment.  Three-hundred-dollars and two hours of my time got me hair.  Ginger-brown “Ellie” from Rene of Paris - a little eyeliner, eyebrow pencil,  and a long-enough arm to point my camera and you get to meet Ree’s wig.

Ready?

—- Now, go sign that petition, okay?  Ivy deserves it.  —-