A teenager from Borders is excited about attending a winter school ball after receiving support from donors who helped fund her dream of having a full head of hair.
Jenny Thomson, a 16-year-old from Morebattle, near Kelso, began losing her hair at the age of nine due to alopecia. Despite trying various treatments, none provided a lasting solution. She believed she couldn’t afford a mesh integration technique, which costs £2,600.
After launching a GoFundMe campaign, nearly 300 donors contributed over £6,000—more than double her original goal of £800. Jenny has since scheduled an appointment for next week to undergo the procedure.
“I can’t believe what has happened and how amazing people have been,” Jenny told BBC Scotland News. “After seven years, I’m going to have hair again and be able to go to the ball with my friends—just like them, with my hair done.”
The treatment involves fitting a mesh material onto her head. Technicians will braid her existing natural hair and add extensions to create a fuller look. “By the end of next week, I’ll have a full head of hair and be me again,” she said.
Though the mesh is a temporary solution and will need to be replaced in two years, Jenny feels this support has made her dream come true, especially as she faces important social events like proms and dances.
“I’m very nervous to see it, but it feels like an end to a very long seven years, so I’m just so excited and can’t wait to see what it looks like,” she shared. “I’ve got a ball in November, and I’m finally going to have hair for it, which is mad to think about.”
Jenny admitted that dealing with hair loss as a child was challenging, and it has become increasingly difficult as she has grown older. “Seeing other teenage girls do their hair and get dressed up—hair is such a big part of what you look like—yeah, it’s been tough,” she said.
Interestingly, she kept her crowdfunding efforts a secret from her parents, unsure of how they would react. However, her mother, Morag, expressed pride in Jenny’s determination. “She has coped with a lot, and for her to do this off her own back is just her—very determined,” Morag said. “We can’t thank people enough for what they have done for us. It’s hard to take in.”
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