A little girl from Western Sydney is asking heartbreaking questions no child should have to after losing most of her hair in just months.
At just four years old, Azaliah Cameron has been diagnosed with alopecia areata — an irreversible autoimmune condition that causes hair loss.
“She wants to know why… why is she losing her hair, why does it have to be her that’s going bald?” her mother Tahni-May Brannigan told 7NEWS.
Brannigan said it began as a small bald patch in July last year, before Azaliah was diagnosed by a dermatologist in October. By April 14, she had lost about 80 per cent of her hair.
“She gets upset and it is hard. It’s very hard to try and get her to understand what’s happening,” Brannigan said.
Due to start kindergarten next year, Azaliah has since begun avoiding preschool as her confidence has taken a hit.
“She used to go every day, she used to love it,” her father Corey Cameron said. “Since all this has started she’s kind of been avoiding school, [she] doesn’t want to go.”
Her parents say they are doing everything in their power to ease their daughter’s anxiety.
The family has launched a GoFundMe page to help cover the cost of treatment and support, including wigs, which can cost about $4000 and need to be replaced as she grows.
They are also facing ongoing expenses for specialist care, including dermatology, immunology and psychology appointments, with only limited sessions subsidised.
“I want her to be able to go to school and be able to make social connections and be confident,” Brannigan said.
In the fundraising page, the parents said it was heartbreaking they could not take the pain away from her.
“But we can stand beside her, lift her up, and show her she is strong, beautiful, and forever loved,” they wrote. “We are reaching out for support — whether that’s a donation or simply sharing our story. Every little bit helps and means more to us than words can say.”
Despite the challenges, Azaliah’s parents say their daughter remains bright and full of personality.
“She’s very fun, she’s very joyful and she’s a very special individual,” Brannigan said. “Words can’t describe how much we love Azaliah.”
Speaking to 7NEWS, Azaliah said she enjoys “hanging out with my dog and eating peanut butter”.
“Can you please donate ... it will mean the world to me,” she said.
