According to the wishes of young oncology patients, they make such a wig as they wish

An average of 80 to 90 children get sick in Slovenia each year in Sloveniabetween them, from 15 to 20, for treatment, needs or want a wig. Until recently, children could not get a free hair substitute for us, and for the last five years they have this option.

Effort Brigite Sprucemoms of a girl Mewho has leukemia, this year, with the help of the Association of Medicine Students, was joined by nearly 30 hair salons around the country. They collect long hair and send them to Spruce, and she is the English Foundation Little Princess Trust, where they make just the wig according to young people, especially oncological patients, as they want.

“They usually want as much as color -like color and shape, such as their hair, the details, according to their wishes, I then finish me. Rarely wants something else, though it could be, given that this is usually a temporary accessory. I remember a wig for a girl who had previously curly hair, even permanently crushed. Otherwise, in almost five years I have only ordered one wig for a boy, « says Brigita Smrekar from Kamnik. The project, which started it herself, continues at the Golden Pentljica Institute. She is also the one who, who wants a wig to the hospitals, diminishes the head, and when the product arrives, she cuts it to the desired shape and length.

Each week, she receives from one to five hairy hair, donations are increased especially before summer and early September, when many girls or women choose to make a bigger change, many customers have also sharpened her hair in her salon for a good purpose. As the project outgrown its abilities, and she thought about how to spread the charity throughout Slovenia, she accepted the help of medical students who attracted hair salons in other places in the collection campaign. Thus, those who want to donate their hair can be cut closer to their home.

« The project is about raising awareness of the general public about cancer and the possibility of assistance, and in my efforts it is at the forefront of raising awareness of the possibilities of patients to obtain wig, and then collecting hair, » the interviewee said. In five years, she sent about 300 pounds of hair to England, and 50 pounds of new ones have already been prepared for the next shipment, he adds.

Her daughter of a wig did not need

It started with daughter’s disease; She became ill with leukemia at the age of seven and lost her hair. Although she missed them, they poured enough confidence at home, that she was beautiful without them, which she accepted and needed wig. “As long as the children are in the hospital, in the ward with themselves, they usually have no problems. However, some girls, especially teenagers, are very attached to their hair. When they come among peers where all the girls are tidy, dressed, with beautiful hair, it is very difficult for them.

They are already cut off from the usual life and still visually different, so it is important that they can get a hair substitute from natural hair if they want it. In talks with children and adolescents, I heard quite a few stories about being attacked at school because of their appearance, and my Mijo also asked why the boy with a dress, which she transferred well compared to older children, « he says of his experience.

With donated hair, 18,000 young patients have helped at the Little Princess Trust Foundation in twenty years of wigs. Photo: Little Princess Trust Archive

In 2019, she opened her hair salon and started collecting her hair. After unsuccessful finding a possible hair maker for sick children, a year later, she connected with Little Princess Trust from England. She wrote them without expectations, in which she presented herself as Mia’s mother and provided some information about the number of young oncology patients in Slovenia.

They were immediately for cooperation, and she decided to help with hair stock, as they are not cheap on the market. The cost of making a wig is around 700 British pounds ($ 830), and it requires 18 haired hair 40 centimeters in length, which means that as many people have to donate their hair.

From then on, all children and adolescents up to 24, who have been ill with cancer and are during active treatment, can order a wig according to their wishes. It has to wait two weeks to a month. When the Golden Pentljica Institute was founded in 2022 – children with cancer in which Mija is actively involved, cooperation with Little Princess Trust also passed under the auspices of the institute. The Brigita Smrekar was awarded the honorary title ahead, making it the only ambassador of the Fund outside England, and also visited her hair salon.

Hair loss – loss of identity

As the pediatrician explains oncologist from the Ljubljana Pediatric Clinic Simona Ivančanhair or hairstyle is not just decoration, but part of personal integrity, identity and recognition. The loss is already difficult for an adult, and the appearance becomes important for children when they become aware of themselves. By growing up children or adolescents, the appearance is accompanied by an emotional component, so loss of hair in teens is even worse, as self -image is very important at the time.

“Otherwise, hair loss from case to case is different, one is quickly lost, the other only partially, in 99 percent it is a transitional state, but rarely can be permanent; We already had such cases. We offer everyone a conversation, if necessary, psychological support, and inform them of the possibility of a free hair accessory, « says the interviewee.

Some do not have much problems and wear caps, others want to be as they are, and some are happy to take a wig and use it only occasionally, such as group photography, a special event, graduation, valet, burma and the like. It is desirable that the wig is made of natural hair, he adds, as it is more authentic, it is easier to shape it, because natural hair is not so rigid and adapted or responding to humidity in the air. Below it is also less hot than under synthetic.

How is it that only about a quarter of young patients decide on it? “Very rarely, boys choose her, some girls have it, but they don’t use it, either because they are hot under her or because they seem alien to themselves. I think that for many, our psychological support is decisive, in which we try to explain to them that hair loss is not something that needs to be hidden, many take it as a temporary condition or part of treatment.

They internalize that there is nothing wrong with this and that each of us is unique as it is, even if temporarily without hair, that this condition is mostly transient and that the hair will then grow again. We also don’t always want to be similar to others. On the other hand, it means a lot to many wigs especially when they do not want to stand out, even if it is the first 10 minutes when they come to class, « summarizes the doctor’s observations.

However, it seems that hair loss in society is still taboo. “Yes. Although society is increasingly aware in this respect, the loss of hair is mostly a fear of a serious illness, such as cancer in children. Therefore, it is even more relevant to raise awareness that this disease is among us, that there are children who have become ill among us, as well as that we know the appropriate treatment and that they have the sick just like healthy needs and desires, « he said. It is important, in particular, that they do not cease to live fully and that they do not stop taking care of their exterior, and more importantly, that this exterior is what they want.

Most often the one who would be shut down anyway

The campaign, which grew into all -Slovenian, was joined, among other things, by the owner of the Maribor Hairdressing Studio TU Tanja Urbas. In order to help children as much as possible, the voice of it is constantly shared on social networks. He thinks that customer response could be greater. So far, five donors have reported to her, these days she was donated by a nine -year -old girl who wanted shorter hairstyles, and when she told her about collecting campaign, she was immediately ready to help. A girl, an elementary school student who decided to sharpen to help some sick dolls, also subscribed next week.

Almost 30 hair salons across Slovenia have joined the project. Photo: Tanja Urbas Archive

“One of my clients is trapped once a year. She has very guests and strong hair and is easier to shorter before summer. Two more parties intended to shorten them anyway, and one long -term decided to do so because of this project. And if someone chooses to do something for a good purpose, I think I have to contribute something myself. In this case, I give free haircuts, « said the interviewee.

The list also includes the Frida Ljubljana Salon. Owner Nataša Urbančič Eržen She learned about Brigita Smrekar years ago, as her former associate, as noticing, was quickly found to have too short. “The boy decided to donate because his hair was tired and intended to cut him off, and he did a good job next to him. Otherwise, whoever has inquired about what to do with long hair, he usually asked where and for how much he would sell them, « said the interviewee, who seems important to support the project and do something good for sick children.