Featured in Stuff @ School, The Star newspaper (16 April 2008)

 

Special in His Own Way

By Sharmilla Ganesan
 

Most of us would be hurt or upset if we were stared at or made fun of. But what if people made fun of you or stared at you for something you cannot change?
 

Nine-year-old Ethan Tan knows exactly what this is like.
 

Ethan has a condition called alopecia, which causes the loss of hair from the head and body. The most severe form of the condition, which happens to about one in 100,000 people, causes the loss of all hair, including the eyebrows and eyelashes.
 

Ethan recalls that he had hair as a baby, but lost all of it when he was about four years old. It grew back several times, but fell off again. From the age of seven, he has not had any hair growth.
 

Despite having to deal with such challenging circumstances, this cheerful boy is unfazed. He enjoys singing, dancing and reading, and hopes to be a cartoonist some day.
 

“Having this condition doesn’t affect my daily life very much,” says Ethan. “I can go to school and participate in all the activities. I can read, write and draw. I can have fun by going to shopping malls, parks or anywhere else, like other kids my age. I can also eat anything I like. The only difference is, I don’t have to go for haircuts and get to save money on shampoo, gels and combs!”
 

There are times, however, when others make it difficult for Ethan to lead a carefree life. He says that a lot of people stare at him, which makes him feel uncomfortable. Furthermore, many people, both children and adults, tend to touch his head without asking his permission. Because of such unwanted attention, Ethan always wears a cap when he goes out.
 

“Some adults are even very rude about it when I tell them not to touch. It’s horrible to have sticky hands on your head, don’t you think so?” he says.
 

He also remembers feeling a little nervous on his first day of school. During assembly the other children called him names like botak head and Xiaolin Showdown (a cartoon character without hair). Although he felt very upset, he realised that there wasn’t much he could say or do to stop them.
 

“I still get called names sometimes, and it hurts me a lot, but I’m trying not to let it affect me so much now.”
 

However, Ethan is also happy that he is able to make friends and find people who understand what he is going through.
 

“I have three best friends, Camillea, Nathaniel and Andrew. My classmates are also very understanding; they don’t call me botak head or try to touch my head.”
 

He also has some very good advice for other children who, like him, may be going through something that makes them feel like they don’t belong.
 

“It’s important to try and not feel sad about it, and not to let what others say about you get you down,” he says. “If you are upset, it’s important to talk to your parents about it. And you should always remember that God made you special.”