Courtesy of family

I Love Being Special

Meet Rosie Quinn. This 11-year-old from Illinois teaches other kids to love their differences.

November 21, 2022

By Rosie Quinn, age 11

As You Read: Describe Rosie’s smile kits. What are they? And what are they for?

When you see me, you probably notice that I’m not like most kids. I’m different. I have a condition called alopecia (a-loh-PEE-shuh).

My body is allergic to my hair. That makes my hair fall out. But I’ve turned being different into something special. Now I help others do the same thing.

When you see me, you probably notice that I’m not like most kids. I’m different. I have a condition called alopecia (a-loh-PEE-shuh).

My body is allergic to my hair. That makes my hair fall out. But I’ve turned being different into something special. Now I help others do the same thing.

Feeling Different

My alopecia began when I was 2. All my hair came out. I didn’t notice that I looked different until I was 4. That’s when other kids started to stare and point at me.

I was just a healthy kid without hair. But the attention made me feel insecure about myself.

My alopecia began when I was 2. All my hair came out. I didn’t notice that I looked different. I only noticed when I was 4. That’s when other kids started to stare and point at me.

I was just a healthy kid without hair. But the attention made me feel insecure about myself.

What Is Alopecia?

Nearly 7 million Americans have alopecia. People of all ages can get it, but it usually starts in kids. With alopecia, a person’s body attacks their hair. That causes them to lose some or all of their hair.

What Is Alopecia?

Start With Happiness

Thankfully, I have a lot of support. My family, teachers, and friends help me. They listen to me whenever I feel hurt and look out for me at school.

With my family’s help, I started Coming Up Rosies in 2016. I got the idea after my mom printed one of my paintings on a head scarf for me.

When I put on the head scarf, it made me feel happy and smile. I wanted to make kids like me smile too. And I also wanted to reach kids who lose their hair because of medical treatments.

Thankfully, I have a lot of support. My family, teachers, and friends help me. They listen to me whenever I feel hurt. They also look out for me at school.

With my family’s help, I started Coming Up Rosies in 2016. I got the idea after my mom printed one of my paintings on a head scarf for me.

When I put on the head scarf, it made me feel happy and smile. I wanted to make kids like me smile too. I also wanted to reach kids who lose their hair because of medical treatments.

How to Make Smiles

Shutterstock.com

Coming Up Rosies gives “smile kits” to kids in hospitals so they can make their own art. We get donations, or gifts of money, from people. We use those donations to buy paint, brushes, and canvases for each kit.

Kids create whatever art they like and send it to us. We print the art on head scarves, neck scarves, or superhero capes. Now the kids can wear their art!

My goal is to send out 10,000 smile kits around the world. It’s a big goal, but I’m going to shoot for the stars.

Coming Up Rosies gives “smile kits” to kids in hospitals so they can make their own art. We get donations from people. The donations are gifts of money. We use that money to buy paint, brushes, and canvases for each kit.

Kids create whatever art they like. Then they send it to us. We print the art on head scarves or neck scarves. We also print superhero capes. Now the kids can wear their art!

My goal is to send out 10,000 smile kits around the world. It’s a big goal, but I’m going to shoot for the stars.

Changing the World

I hope kids smile and wear their creations with pride. I hope they embrace how they look. I feel joy when I help others.

Living with alopecia has taught me that I like to be different. If we all looked exactly the same, wouldn’t life be boring? Being unique is beautiful!

I hope kids smile and wear their creations with pride. I hope they embrace how they look. I feel joy when I help others.

Living with alopecia has taught me that I like being different. If we all looked exactly the same, wouldn’t life be boring? Being unique is beautiful!