Sep 04 2008
Today’s Request for a Good Deed
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. —-
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I loved bald Ree, but I gotsta say, that does NOT look like a wig, yo. MeeeOooow.
Also, Ivy totally deserves all the help she can get. So does her momma. The Tiff clan has been through ENOUGH.
Thanks for posting about her. I am so already petitioned.
Mr Lady’s last blog post..Denver DNC Recap: The Important Stuff Part Three
HOT DAMN REE!!! That looks fabulous!
Petition signed
Kudos to you for giving Ivy’s plight some attention.
Lys’s last blog post..HTML Queens…
Most importantly…I signed the petition..OMG help that baby.
2nd of all, I agree..bald Ree is HOT…but new Ellie Ree..is Hot too.. I like it, color is great. Looks very natural, how does it feel..both touch and on your head??
Mr Hot digging it? It could be like he’s cheating..
mp’s last blog post..Hello September
You know, I loved bald Ree but this looks terrific! Thanks for posting about Ivy. I’m going to take a look right now.
Dingo’s last blog post..Outrageous! (NSFW)
That is horrible … about IVY! I signed the petition. I wish I had more readers so I could do more (alas, I don’t get many on my blog but I will still post a link to the petition!).
LOVE the color & style Ree - looks great!
You’re beautiful, but then I knew that. On my way to sign the petition.
Candy’s last blog post..Crying Me A River
DAYUM!!!! You look beautiful!
Jen on the Edge’s last blog post..Houses and more houses
Love that sexy hair!
And oh mah hell I’m diggin’ the new header, those boots are some kind of hawtness!!!!!
rachel’s last blog post..The Sister She Always Wanted
Ree, that looks fabulous! Of course, you’re gorgeous without it, too, so no surprise there. I’m headed over to sign the petition for little Ivy now. Good God, I can’t believe this world sometimes.
Tina’s last blog post..Back to school…BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Nice wig. I’m just a leedle disappointed that you didn’t go for the pink Lacus Clyne one, but this works too.
Solomon@ThingsI’mGratefulFor’s last blog post..Things I’m Grateful For on Thursday 4 September
Perfect! Cut, color, style …. you are rockin’!
Now I’m heading over to sign that petition.
Nancy’s last blog post..Bently, Incognito
it looks great!
but I kinda preferred the bald Ree, sorry!
mamacrow’s last blog post..A very merry (un) birthday to you…
I love it!
Fishing Around’s last blog post..One Step At A Time
LOVE the hair, Ree!
And I signed the petition - - I hope they decide to give that poor little girl a chance at a normal life!
Liz J in Central Illinois’s last blog post..Very Important Update On My Other Blog
First, I signed the petition. Second, love the wig - cute and sassy!
Fannie’s last blog post..A letter to Sarah Palin
signed.
damn… you look hot as a brunette. wonder what you’d look like as a blonde, a redhead?
zeghsy’s last blog post..“oh may holy hell, y’all”
Nice!
suburbancorrespondent’s last blog post..As The Food Turns
You are too fabulous!!! Love the hair! Hot Hot Hot!
There’s going to be some flirting going on at your house!
You look adorable, as always. And the wig? Looks totally natural, and a very cute cut.
witchypoo’s last blog post..Little Ivy
You look fabulous, dah-ling
Going to check out the site for the sweet girl.
anymommy’s last blog post..This Old House
You look fabulous dah-ling! Going to check out the site right now.
That does not look like a wig! Gorgeousness. And petition signed.
Shania’s last blog post..Let’s have a bit of humor, shall we?
You’re gorgeous, chick, whatever color your scalp or hair is. (Pink, purple…)
I signed Ivy’s petition. Poor little thing.
daysgoby’s last blog post..first day: grade one
You look amazing and you ARE amazing.
Veronica’s last blog post..Ivy Girl
Oooh - it’s got one of those mono filament tops that looks so very real! I’d have never known if you didn’t say so. I’m so proud of learning what monofilament was when it comes to wigs from my own bout with hairlessness (due to chemo) but to be honest, my hair was never very thick and I think I might actually shave the old head again and get a new wig for winter. Since my hair is so thin, I know what those stares feel like. But I love your perspective on it. As for eyebrows - Sally Beauty supply sells a great little stencil and powder that you just pat on - it looks way more natural than eyebrow pencil (another thing learned from going through chemo). Regardless, you look fantastic and you have very pretty eyes!
teeni’s last blog post..Appearances can be Deceiving
OOh - and I did sign the petition - that was the easiest way to help someone that I could possible think of.
teeni’s last blog post..Appearances can be Deceiving
That’s some sexy & sassy hair
Almost as fun as funky scarves. Love it!
Twisting Ivy’s last blog post..Impulsive, I Am
I love the wig, and I also think you’re fabulous with OR without it.
Petition signed. Unbelievable what people will — and won’t — do in this world.
Lookee you! I’m amazed at your strength and touched by the story you linked - I’ll be signing that petition as soon as I finish this comment.
Your hair looks fabulous! Cute cut too. Have you thought about getting wigs that are blonde? Redhead for a day? Maybe too $$, but still…. the possibilities.
My Husband had sarcoidosis a number of years ago, another auto immune disease. It’s “OK” when you’re an adult, but my heart breaks for children (and their parents) who are sick.
Off to sign … YOU have a fabulous weekend.
xoxo
Jenny’s last blog post..September
Signed! Australian Blood Authority is being a douche!
I know ALL ABOUT the stupid eyebrow-painting-on stuff… I’m so glad that mine finally decided to grow back on their own, along with my eyelashes.
Your wig looks fantastic. I love mono tops. My new wig has a mono top/lace front which looks awesome, if I take the time to tape it down.
Have a great weekend!
that head will get you some.
fo. sho.
Pamela’s last blog post..sort-of-wordless wednesday, or and away she went.
And the Hotfessional out hots herself again.
Amaelija’s last blog post..Pleasant Evening
Petition signed. And wow, that is some seriously nice hair. Almost as nice as that green scarf.
Kidding, of course.
charlotte’s last blog post..From an erstwhile community organizer …
I signed the petition. What a horrible disease.
You look fantastic! Love it, but I, too, would have loved to have seen a red headed Ree.
Major Bedhead’s last blog post..Behind Closed Doors
I had to read your post twice to figure out that’s a wig. I like to think that’s a product of the fabulous wig workmanship rather than my stupidity.
hey!
You look damn cute!
Plus, your attitude should win you a prize.
I’ll get right over there and sign petition - that’s maddening.
My nephew has Addison’s Disease/APS Type 1 (another difficult auto immune disease) and we are grateful that he can be treated.
blackbird’s last blog post..my teacher
Hey!! I LOVE it! And you know—the wig also give you a kick-ass prop for drama. Say, I dunno, you go into the office one day, walk in all nice and then go apeshit & totally rip your wig off and yell, scream: “I’m mad as hell and you call all SUCK IT!”
On a serious note, thanks for posting about Ivy. I’m off to sign…
The Over-Thinker’s last blog post..Welcome to the Freakshow! Have a seat, ya Nutbag.
Love the new look Ree…and I went over and promptly signed the petition!!!
Carrie’s last blog post..First Day of School!!!
Your new ‘do is fantastic!
Off to read about Ivy.
Tuli’s last blog post..Thrifty Thursday and a new ‘do.
You look MAHHHHHHVELOUS Dahling!!!! Simply Mahhhhhvelous! I signed the petition. My friend’s daughter gets IVIG treatments for another disease called ITP.
imhelendt’s last blog post..My ninja skillz are powerful, Oh Buzzy One. Do not anger me.
You look great!!!!!!!
just bob
just bob’s last blog post..Professional Weather Forecast
Thank you.
I can’t think of anything else to say because words are just not enough.
tiff’s last blog post..Just when you were losing hope with humanity…
i didnt know what your condition is until this post, but i had seen one of your pics with no hair and i thought it was because of another condition which i wouldnt like to pronounce because i sort of believe that if you pronounce a bad condition or even if you think about it, it happens.
im just glad to hear that it is only baldness.
suoer hero’s last blog post..whats in a football game
Love the new ‘do! On my way tot he petition now.
And that right there is why socialized medicine sucks. I’m signing that petition. There is no reason to deny that child the help she needs.
LOVE the new wig! Great color, great style, and it totally looks real.
Shelly’s last blog post..Chance Encounter
I signed the petition. The prednisone that Ivy is on can have major effects when it’s taken for a lifetime. Short term use can do wonders, but taken for years and years it can cause some major deterioriation of the body (my BIL is seeing a myriad of issues because he’s been on it for decades).
I do like the ‘do. it totally doesn’t look like a wig, as far as I’m concerned, and the style is very flattering.
MamaKaren’s last blog post..In a world, where voiceover actors can be pop culture icons…
I’ll have to go back and read the comments on this post when little people aren’t screaming… but I just have to comment real quick!
I LOVE the wig. That doesn’t even remotely look like a wig. Awesome! (do people still stay that?) At least I didn’t say ‘groovy’.
And secondly, this post made me all kinds of thankful that *my* autoimmune disease allows me to live a normal life. It may not always be this way, but for now, I’m good. But that little girl? It’s just NOT RIGHT! I’ve been inlove with Ivy for the few weeks I’ve been reading Tiff’s blog and I’ve layed awake wondering what the heck can be done to help her. How absolutely wonderful of Veronica to take the initiative to get this petition started! I hope there are thousands of signatures when it’s said and done.
Hyphen Mama’s last blog post..Your Empathy is NEEDED
You look fantastic! Off to read more about Ivy now.
Wow! That’s a very sassy look, Mrs H! You look mahvallous, dahlink!
I signed the petition, too.
Sarah’s last blog post..Almost Amy Shirts Available!
Signed the petition. LOVE the hair. It looks awesome! Have a great weekend (with real beer? Excellent!)
MommyTime’s last blog post..Dear Funnel Web Spiders,
Hot. Damn Hot. But you know that.
I was going to post about Ivy, but seems everyone is doing it and I don’t want it to get old so I have emailed all my friends to do it. Seems a compromise eh?
Love you for doing it babe.
Kelley’s last blog post..My hovercraft is full of eels
Oooooh! I LOVE it! It looks fab! Very natural, and very stylish! Perfect.
Madmad’s last blog post..I really, really need a job
holy shit, nice hairs
Dawns last blog post..Whew - I needed that!
You look FABULOUS! It doesn’t look like a wig at all!
I love it!
Kristabellas last blog post..Bacon Crashes My Pity Party