‘I was heartbroken for her,’ said 25-year-old mum Tonicha Kelly. ‘She loves her hair and it was just coming out in handfuls.’
Tonicha’s daughter, Olivia-Jane Kelly – known as OJ – recently started to lose her hair after an eczema flare up.
But this isn’t the first time eight-year-old OJ has lost her hair – the previous instance was down to stress.
That’s why, when Tonicha came across the Little Princess Trust charity – which provides real hair wigs, free of charge, to children and young people who have lost their own hair – OJ and her sisters made a pact to donate their hair.
OJ – along with her siblings: six-year-old Ceceillia and five-year-old Georgina – all had shoulder length hair at the time.
They vowed to grow it as long as possible before cutting it off and donating it to the Hereford-based charity.
However, due to her eczema outbreak, OJ’s light brown hair began to fall out, and she lost almost half of it in just three months.
‘You couldn’t even touch it because that made it fall out,’ Tonicha said.
‘She’s always doing her hair or CeCe’s or Georgie’s.’
That’s when Tonicha decided to contact the Little Princess Trust, who gave her a wig free of charge.
‘It’s amazing,’ she said.
‘We’re over the moon.
‘I never thought it could happen this quickly.’
There was only one week between Tonicha contacting the charity and OJ going for her fitting, where she was able to choose the hair she’s always wanted.
‘I’m so impressed with the Little Princess Trust and I feel so grateful’ Tonicha added.
‘[OJ’s] little face, all lit up and beaming.’
The new wig meant the world to OJ, who has been through a lot – alongside her hair loss.
The youngster also has a chromosomal disorder, was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease aged three, had surgery on her bowel aged six, and suffers from sensory overloads.
But her mum stresses she was delighted with her wig.
‘OJ’s the most amazing little girl,’ Tonicha said.
‘She’s been through so much and she never complains.
‘She’s such a sweetheart and everyone adores her.
‘She lives a battle every day and still just wants to help others.
‘I never thought I would be asking the Little Princess Trust for a wig for my child, but I feel like it’s good karma because they were donating.
‘It’s like kindness coming back around.’
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