Brotherhood of Bald People Worldwide

MANSFIELD -- Julia Crittendon has taken the old saying about making lemonade out of lemons to heart. Or rather she's taken it to her head, choosing to use the condition that caused her hair to fall out as an avenue to help others. 

The former Mansfield resident recently self published "Metamorphosis: Inspirational Stories of Women Living with Alopecia." The book charts the experiences of 22 women as they dealt with hair loss and what it's like to be a bald woman. 

"People are still hiding from it," Crittendon said, noting when she was diagnosed she found no literature or any support other than from her family. 

"These women are standing up to what was meant to destroy and depress them and are turning it into positive productive energy so that the next woman who loses her 'crown and glory' won't fall victim to what society deems as 'normal.' " 

Two of the women explained their own feelings about living with alopecia to the News Journal via e-mail."I feel honored to have contributed to a book that may inspire and help all who are lucky enough to come across it," Jenn Pendergrast said. "I am totally bald and have finally accepted it." 

A Fort Lauderdale, Fla., resident, she was diagnosed in March 2006. 

She said the book provided a kind of therapy for her. 

"It was actually the first time I put my story into words and I cried the entire time I was writing," Pendergrast, 31, said. "When I was done writing, I felt so good. It felt awesome to put all that had happened into words for others to read."

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