This mother and daughter received the best gift of all after walking into an American Girl store and seeing beautiful dolls that represented more than just the average child. Mia was diagnosed with alopecia areata at the age of four. It’s an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss.
Her mother, Meredith Bailey, has always worked to make sure Mia felt strong and healthy despite her diagnosis. Last Christmas, Mia received an American Girl doll that looked like her – it, too, was bald.
Thrilled, she named it Alopecia. Later on, however, she reflected on the fact that she never saw the doll in stores. This saddened her mother, who longed for other children like Mia to get to see their likeness in these dolls.
And that’s when it happened. The pair visited an American Girl store recently, and were pleasantly surprised to see plenty of dolls just like Alopecia out on display in the open. It moved Bailey to tears.
She shared her feelings on Facebook, saying, “These dolls were not hidden in the back and had to be asked for…to little girls who may feel ‘alone’ and so desperately want to see dolls that reflect their beauty — it means more than you know. I cried many happy tears yesterday. Thank you so much for including ALL children.â€
But that’s not all – American Girl also makes wheelchairs, hearing aids, and diabetic tests for their dolls. It’s truly refreshing to see all children being represented in their toys. Like and share if you agree!
Feature Image Source: Meredith Bailey
